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

And while the menu does boast a New York steak florentine entree at $56, a majority of the in-house prepared homemade pasta and pizza dishes are well below that. —Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026

Something in keeping with the rustic, adult pleasure of the entree. —Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026

The menu features an option that includes an entree, a drink and even a dessert inspired by Tony Tony Chopper. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026

Lemon, rosemary, and garlic create a lively flavor combo in this entree. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2026

That’s why Seltzer recommends getting a hold of the menu before going to the restaurant and choosing entrees ahead of time. —​wendy Wisner, Parents, 6 Apr. 2026

Its menu is vast, with and includes appetizers, entrees, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 2 Apr. 2026

Diners can enjoy homemade pasta like beef cheek fusilli or hearty entrees like the brick chicken scarpariello. —Erin Hassanzadeh, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026

The menu also includes a bison rib-eye, a prime porterhouse and entrees such as lobster, sea bass, lamb chops and chicken Parmesan. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 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"