enter

verb

en·ter | \ ˈen-tər

entered; entering\ ˈen-t(ə-)riŋ

Definition of enter

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to go or come in

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

3a : 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

5a : 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

5a : 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 (something, such as land)

10 : to put formally on record entering a complaint

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

enter-

combining form

variants: or entero-

Definition of enter- (Entry 2 of 2)

: intestine enteritis

Other Words from enter Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about enter

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Synonyms & Antonyms for enter

Synonyms: Verb

access, penetrate, pierce

Antonyms: Verb

depart, exit, leave

Choose the Right Synonym for enter

Verb

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

Examples of enter in a Sentence

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The Saponi were forced to enter Fort Christanna, run by Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood, or face death. — Nick Martin, The New Republic, "IT: Chapter Two and the Great American Tradition of Selling Native Spirituality," 16 Sep. 2019 Dr Fox says the diagnosis was lipoid pneumonia, a rare non-infectious condition that occurs when oils or lipid-containing substances enter the lungs. — The Economist, "A deadly outbreak casts a dark cloud over e-cigarettes," 14 Sep. 2019 Bezos ultimately might not cave to his activist employees’ demands, but their open protest of the company’s record on climate change, all by itself, tells us Amazon’s culture has entered a whole new era. — Lila Maclellan, Quartz at Work, "Even Jeff Bezos can’t afford to ignore his employees’ climate-change demands," 13 Sep. 2019 According to Bay Area media reports, Roberts was visiting his grandmother at her Richmond, Calif. home Wednesday afternoon when someone entered the home and shot him while in the backyard. — oregonlive, "Former Oregon State cornerback Terrell Roberts killed in Bay Area shooting," 12 Sep. 2019 Roberts was at his grandmother's home in Richmond that afternoon when someone entered the house and shot him in the backyard, CNN affiliate KPIX reported in a statement attributed to Roberts' family. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN, "Former NFL player Terrell Roberts shot and killed," 12 Sep. 2019 Since former Vogue editor Juliet Hughes-Hallett founded the organization six years ago, Smart Works has helped 15,000 women re-enter the workforce. — Omid Scobie, Harper's BAZAAR, "How Duchess Meghan Brought the Smart Works Fashion Collection to Life," 12 Sep. 2019 When Marcie Trent entered her orbit, Ray went from being a jogger to a runner. — Beth Bragg, Anchorage Daily News, "By setting an American age-group track record, one Anchorage runner pays tribute to another," 10 Sep. 2019 This disease arises when oils or other substances containing lipids enter the lungs. — Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "A vaping lung disease has sickened hundreds and caused deaths. Here's what you need to know.," 10 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for enter

Verb

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

Combining form

Greek, from enteron — more at inter-

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More Definitions for enter

enter

verb

English Language Learners Definition of enter

: to go or come into (something)

: to begin to be in (an organization, school, etc.)

: to cause (someone) to be in an organization, school, etc.

See the full definition for enter in the English Language Learners Dictionary

enter

verb

en·ter | \ ˈen-tər

entered; entering

Kids Definition of enter

1 : to come or go in or into enter a room enter middle age

2 : to stab into : pierce The thorn entered my thumb.

3 : to put into a list or book : write down The teacher entered my name on the roster.

4 : to put in or into Enter the data into the computer.

5 : to become a member of I entered a fitness club.

6 : to become a participant in or take an interest in enter a race enter politics

7 : enroll in : begin attending enter kindergarten

enter

intransitive verb

en·ter

Legal Definition of enter

: to go or come in specifically : to go upon real property by right of entry especially to take possession lessor shall have the right to enter and take possession —often used in deeds and leases

transitive verb

1 : to come or go into he breaks into and enters a vehicle — Code of Alabama — see also break, breaking and entering

2 : record, register

3 : to put in correct form before a court or on a record entered judgment against the defendant entering a plea — compare render

4 : to go upon (real property) by right of entry especially to take possession if the lessee defaults, the lessor may enter the premises — compare distrain

enter into

: to make oneself a party to or in no State shall enter into any treaty, alliance or confederation — U.S. Constitution art. I