entrée

noun

en·​trée ˈän-ˌtrā 

 also  än-ˈtrā

variants or entree

1

a

: the act or manner of entering : entrance

b

: freedom of entry or access

2

: the main course of a meal in the U.S.

Did you know?

The culinary sense of entrée can be traced back to 18th-century Britain. In those days a formal dinner could include not only the principal courses of soup, fish, meat, and dessert, but also an impressive array of side dishes. Between the fish and meat courses would come a small side dish, and because this secondary dish came immediately before the centerpiece of the meal, it was called the entrée, being, in effect, the entrance to the really important part of the meal. As dining habits have changed, meals have become simpler, and fewer courses are served. However, in the US, the course following the appetizer continued to be called the entrée, perhaps because it is a French word, and anything French always sounds elegant.

Synonyms

• access
• accession
• admission
• admittance
• door
• doorway
• entrance
• entry
• gateway
• ingress
• key
• passport
• ticket

Examples of entrée in a Sentence

We had steak as an entrée.

entrée to the country club is through sponsorship by someone who is already a member

Recent Examples on the Web

About Peach and Blossom Biden pardoned Peach and Blossom this year from having to be Thanksgiving entrees. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024

The dine-in menu includes a charcuterie appetizer, salad, two entrees (choice of roasted turkey, smoked ham or salmon), choice of two pastas and two traditional sides and a choice of dessert (pumpkin praline cheesecake, apple crostada or chocolate layered cake). —Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Nov. 2024

For example, a Caesar salad rings in at $26, the Dungeness crab cake starter is $41, and the salmon filet entree is $55. —Sara Rosenthal, The Denver Post, 25 Nov. 2024

The menu will include entrees that elevate Prime's existing smoked meats as well as nods to Prieto's Puerto Rican heritage. —Zachery Eanes, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024

The menu changes daily, but expect some beef, lamb, fish and duck among the entrees. —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024

Kountry Kitchen: Order by Nov. 23 for a feast with your choice of chicken ($250), turkey ($300) or ham ($320) as an entree. —Justin L. MacK, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024

Dick’s Last Resort is offering veterans and active military a free entree up to $25.99 value on Nov. 11. —Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 11 Nov. 2024

Is Outback Steakhouse giving free meals for Veterans Day 2024? Outback Steakhouse is providing active-duty military and veterans a free Bloomin’ Onion and beverage with the purchase of an adult entree on Nov. 11. —Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French entrée, from Old French — more at entry

First Known Use

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

entrée

noun

en·​trée

variants or entree

ˈän-ˌtrā 

1

: the main dish of a meal

2

a

: entrance entry 1 sense 1

b

: freedom of entry

Etymology

from French entrée "act or manner of entering"