enter

en·ter

verb \ˈen-tər\

en·tereden·ter·ing\ˈen-t(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of ENTER

intransitive verb

1

: to go or come in

2

: to come or gain admission into a group : join —often used with into

3

a : to make a beginning <entering upon a career> b : to begin to consider a subject —usually used with into or upon

4

: to go upon land for the purpose of taking possession

5

a : to come onstage —usually used in the subjunctive as a stage direction <enter Hamlet reading> b : to come into a preestablished situation or context like an actor coming onstage —usually used in the subjunctive <enter the new principal with her radical ideas>

6

: to play a part : be a factor <other considerations enter when money is involved>

transitive verb

1

: to come or go into <enter a room>

2

: inscribe, register <enter the names of qualified voters>

3

: to cause to be received or admitted <enter a child at a school>

4

: to put in : insert <enter the new data into the computer>

5

a : to make a beginning in <enter politics> b : to go into (a particular period of time) <enter middle age>

6

: to become a member of or an active participant in <enter the university> <enter a race>

7

: to make report of (a ship or its cargo) to customs authorities

8

: to place in proper form before a court of law or upon record <enter a writ>

9

: to go into or upon and take actual possession of (as land)

10

: to put formally on record <entering a complaint>

— en·ter·able \ˈen-t(ə-)rə-bəl\ adjective

— enter into

1

: to make oneself a party to or in <enter into an agreement>

2

: to form or be part of <your prejudices shouldn't enter into it>

3

: to participate or share in <enter into the spirit of the occasion>

— enter the lists

: to engage in a fight or struggle

Examples of ENTER

1. Knock on the door before you enter the room.
2. The medication will quickly enter the blood stream.
3. The river enters the sea near here.
4. Our son will be entering college next year.
5. enter a child in kindergarten
6. The new battleship is scheduled to enter service next spring.
7. an actor who's just now entering his prime
8. The strike has now entered its second week.
9. We've entered a new phase in our relationship.
10. The country is entering a period of prosperity.

Origin of ENTER

Middle English entren, from Anglo-French entrer, from Latin intrare, from intra within; akin to Latin inter between — more at inter-

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to ENTER

Synonyms: access, penetrate, pierce, set foot in, step into

Antonyms: depart, exit, leave

Related Words: barge (in), breeze (in), burst (in or into), waltz (in); drop in, pop (in); stray (into), wander (into); crash, encroach, gate-crash, infiltrate, infringe, intrude, invade, trespass

Near Antonyms: drop out, quit, withdraw

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of ENTER

enter, penetrate, pierce, probe mean to make way into something. enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in <entered the city in triumph>. penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance <the enemy penetrated the fortress>. pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument <pierced the boil with a lancet>. probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge <probed the depths of the sea>.

Rhymes with ENTER

center, mentor, renter, tenter, venter