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

In addition to ramen and sushi, Kinya Ramen’s entrees range from sweet and sour chicken ($13.95) and honey almond shrimp ($15.95) to Mandarin pork ($13.95) and General Tsao chicken ($13.95). —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2025

Enjoy entrees including salmon, pork chops, risotto, and more, and be sure to cap off your meal with a delicious espresso martini. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025

Though these prawns have spiny shells that are difficult to peel, the meat has a sweet taste like lobster, making this entree one of the eatery’s main attractions. —Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025

An, on that note, the host very much served up the entree his fans expected. —Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025

Meaty entrees, healthy veggies, delightful desserts. —arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2025

Their entrees are a mix of sandwiches, burgers and bowls with proteins like chicken, shrimp and beef, but also a vegetarian option. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Feb. 2025

Vegetarian options: Lots of starters, a trio of salads, a couple of flatbreads and one or two entrees depending on the day’s specials. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025

Guests can enjoy a culinary journey featuring innovative entrees and beautifully crafted desserts, each designed to deliver a world-class dining experience. —Noel Burgess, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025

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"