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 of entrée

• 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

The menu is similar to the London restaurant, with popular entrees like spaghetti and lobster or the mezze maniche (short, tubular pasta) all carbonara with seasonal truffle. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026

The centerpiece of this menu are prime-cut entrees ($28-$100, including two sides), such as Black Angus flap meat, ribeyes, porterhouses, tomahawks, spinalis (flavorful ribeye cap muscle), six-rib lamb rack and matambre de res (a beef cut stuffed with mozzarella and gratineed Roquefort). —Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026

Sample your choice of appetizers, entrees and desserts from 25-plus area restaurants, watch live entertainment, shop at the Artist Market and let young ones head to the Kids Zone for inflatables, face painting, sand art and more. —Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026

There also is a formidable variety of other entrees and salads. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026

Seafood lovers might continue with an entree of Manila clams with fregola, fennel and Spanish chorizo ($28). —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026

The menu offers eight pasta dishes and five main entrees, plus an array of appetizers and salads. —Terry Hagerty, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026

About 100 restaurants are participating in this year’s event, with dining promotions ranging from 15% off the total bill to a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of an entree. —Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

The pasta menu offers a choice of eight entrees such as spaghettis, rigatoni in vodka sauce, or pasta with beef Genovese. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Mar. 2026

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"