SINCE 1828
enter
verb
en·ter
| \ ˈen-tər
\
\
entered;
entering\ ˈen-t(ə-)riŋ
\
\
Definition of enter
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
1
: to come or go into
enter a room
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
enter the lists
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
: to engage in a fight or struggle
enter-
combining form
variants:
or entero-
Definition of enter- (Entry 2 of 2)
: intestine
enteritis
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Other Words from enter
Verb
enterable
\ ˈen-t(ə-)rə-bəl
\
adjective
\
adjective
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
Since entering the new era, many sentimentalists and Phoebe devotees are following the @oldceline Instagram page, which has since grown its audience to 207,000. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "Rihanna Can’t Get Enough of Old Celine," 2 Feb. 2019 Facing several more years of deficit, the government is looking to the private sector and investors to help spur new domestic industries and create millions of new jobs for young Saudis entering the workforce in coming years. — Aya Batrawy, The Seattle Times, "Saudi Arabia showcases $53B in deals at conference," 28 Jan. 2019 That can lead to rotting fascia boards and possibly water entering the attic. — Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, "How to Repair Your Gutters and Save Your Home," 16 Jan. 2019 Beginning second terms were Treasurer Michael Frerichs and Comptroller Susana Mendoza, who shortly after her November re-election entered a crowded field to replace retiring Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in February’s election. — John O'connor, The Seattle Times, "Gov. Pritzker gives Democrats near-record power in Illinois," 14 Jan. 2019 To help these companies reach new customers and scale, branding enters the picture. — Diana Budds, Curbed, "The rise of the direct-to-consumer home," 21 Dec. 2018 But, what if light didn’t slow down on entering a material? — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Gas jets make beautiful lens for light we can’t normally focus," 21 Dec. 2018 Upon entering our airspace, cosmic rays first obliterate some hapless molecule in Earth’s atmosphere. — Adam Hadhazy, Discover Magazine, "Scientists Hunt for A Seeming Paradox: A Magnet With Only One Pole," 13 Nov. 2018 Discover it for yourself by entering for a chance to win a 2-night/3-day Dallas getaway, including Dallas Food Tour tickets! — Condé Naste Traveler: Post, "Discover Dallas Sweepstakes," 26 Oct. 2018These 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.
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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
1
: to come or go into
he breaks into and enters a vehicle — Code of Alabama
— see also break, breaking and entering
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
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