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

admit, receive, take

Antonyms: Verb

ban, bar

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 host Rams were riding high entering Thursday’s regional championship game of the Phil Lawler Summer Classic. — Bob Narang, Lake County News-Sun, "Comeback kids: Marcus Maristela and Kevin O’Brien help Grayslake Central reach regional championship game," 13 July 2018 Video shows the suspects enter the bodega and dragging the victim out onto the street. — Danielle Garrand, CBS News, "Justice For Junior: NY proposes legislation to require small businesses to be safe havens for minors," 13 July 2018 In additional video footage obtained by WCVB, Lohan, a friend and his girlfriend can be seen ordering pizza just before 2 a.m. as the large group enters. — Alexia Fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "Lindsay Lohan’s Cousin Allegedly Beaten by 2 Men, New Jersey Police Officer Charged," 12 July 2018 Both starters had entered the game on impressive runs. — Brian Hall, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Twins hit Nathan Eovaldi hard, hold off Rays 11-8," 14 July 2018 The 12 Wild Boars players and their coach had entered the cave to go exploring June 23 but monsoon rains filled the tight passageways, blocking their escape. — Fox News, "Mission accomplished and boys healthy, rescuers head home," 13 July 2018 Ever since Thrones took TV by storm in 2011, HBO has smartly entered all of the series’ performers as supporting actresses and actors in the Emmys race. — refinery29.com, "The 2018 Emmys Love The Lannisters More Than The Starks," 12 July 2018 Both mothers had entered the U.S. and been given deportation orders before. — Elaine Ayala, San Antonio Express-News, "Unmarked vans, security fences: family reunification proceeds behind curtain of secrecy," 12 July 2018 The group had entered the sprawling Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand to go exploring after soccer practice on June 23 when monsoon rains filled the tight passageways, blocking their escape. — Anchorage Daily News, "With V-for-Victory sign, rescued Thai boys celebrate freedom," 12 July 2018

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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Dictionary Entries near enter

Phrases Related to enter

enter (into) the equation

enter someone's mind/head

enter the picture

enter the picture/scene

Statistics for enter

Last Updated

17 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for enter

The first known use of enter was in the 13th century

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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