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
• entry
• admission
• accession
• entrance

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

For entrees, the Spice steak is a straight-ahead option, steak frites (+$10), four or five medallions of tender hangar steak with a peppery-bold au poivre sauce and crisp fries. —Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025

Try the alfredo — and keep your eyes peeled for spaghetti Dasha Barbours customers who haven’t been in for a while might notice a new main entree offering: Seafood Fettuccine Pasta, served with lobster tail and shrimp. —Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 19 Aug. 2025

Thirty-one percent might opt for the private labels, while 24% might aim for less expensive entrees. —Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025

The restaurant serves more than 80,000 buffalo entrees per year, Kinney said. —Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2025

The Italian chopped salad at The Davidson, Downtown The Parisian-style brasserie from Thunderdome Restaurant Group strikes gold with this bitter, briny and nutty salad that's just as much an entree as an appetizer. —Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 15 July 2025

Thursday’s slate features some filling entrees in the late window, but New Orleans Pelicans vs. Minnesota Timberwolves should be a satisfying appetizer. —Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 9 July 2025

Menu prices range from $11.99 to $14.49 for entrees, and $1.99 to $5.79 for sides. —Evan Moore august 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Aug. 2025

Our whitefish and cabbage-wedge entree was preceded by a silky, nutty cauliflower soup. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 3 Aug. 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"