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

For diners hungering for something beyond a taco, entrees on the menu range from Shrimp and Jalapeno Grits ($25) and Carne Asada ($38) to Smoked Chicken Flautas ($19) and a Baja Tuna Poke Bowl ($24). —Michael Deeds updated May 5, Idaho Statesman, 5 May 2026

Chick-fil-A Foxboro at Patriot Place and Chick-fil-A Methuen will serve up free breakfast meals, lunch and dinner meals or an entree salad to educators with a valid professional ID on May 5. —Neal Riley, CBS News, 4 May 2026

It's expected that Qdoba will offer free queso and guacamole on May 5 with the purchase of an entree. —Finch Walker, USA Today, 4 May 2026

Hmong sausage is served all day long, while Thai tea French toast is a popular brunch item, and dinner brings duck and pork entrees. —Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026

About 60 percent of the menu changes seasonally, with popular entrees including spaghetti alla nerano and pan-seared salmon with heirloom tomato beurre blanc and white bean succotash. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2026

Neapolitan, thin-crust pizza, calzones, hot and cold sub-sandwiches and entrees. —Ella Gonzales may 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026

Guests have the choice of three entrees and the cost to attend is $40 per person. —Sharon Hlapcich, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026

Over on the other side, Anthony is doing an entree; Duyen is doing an appetizer; Sherry is doing an appetizer and a dessert; and Laurence is doing an entree and a dessert. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Apr. 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"