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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.
Examples of entrée in a Sentence
Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
Categories include appetizer, entree, salad, soup, side dish or other.
—Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 2 June 2026
Pricing varies depending on which tasting menu and which entrees are ordered.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
With its appealing sweet-sour flavor profile, a perky sauce that features sweet cherries can add pizazz to myriad entrees.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
Plus, some of the new main entrees are crunchy chicken tacos and a shrimp and avocado salad.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
The parade grew over the years to include entrees from local businesses, schools and nonprofits.
—Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Mezes run from $10 to $20, entrees in the $30s.
—Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
For entrees, there are pasta dishes like mushroom Bolognese and meatball rigatoni.
—Connie Ogle
updated May 28, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entrée.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entr%C3%A9e. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
entrée
nounfrom French entrée "act or manner of entering"
