entrench

verb

en·​trench in-ˈtrench 

en-

variants or less commonly intrench

in-ˈtrench 

entrenched also intrenched; entrenching also intrenching; entrenches also intrenches

transitive verb

1

a

: to place within or surround with a trench especially for defense

… Allied troops entrenched themselves on the Normandy beach …

—Andrea Stone

b

: to place (oneself) in a strong defensive position

… a ruling clique's desire to … entrench itself against shifts in public opinion.

—Henry Olsen

c

: to establish solidly

entrenched themselves in the business

… social reforms which the government is trying to entrench.

—Michelle Grattan

2

: to cut into : furrow

specifically : to erode downward so as to form a trench

intransitive verb

1

: to dig or occupy a trench for defensive purposes

2

: to enter upon or take over something unfairly, improperly, or unlawfully : encroach

—used with on or upon

entrench upon a person's rights

entrenchment

in-ˈtrench-mənt 

en-

noun

Synonyms of entrench

• root
• embed
• lodge

Examples of entrench in a Sentence

officials who have tried to entrench themselves in office

a father who entrenched in our minds the belief that hard work pays off

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of the larger labs already have the legal and compliance infrastructure to handle a review process, raising fears the rules could entrench incumbents over startups and open-source developers. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 July 2026

Mining claims take roads, entrenching, and other industrial activity. — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 July 2026

Down there, both people are equally in it; her nervous system just as dysregulated, her patterns just as entrenched. — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 15 July 2026

Bueckers, meanwhile, is deeply entrenched in the league's cultural fabric. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for entrench

• retrench
• workbench
• clench
• drench
• quench
• stench
• tench
• trench
• wench
• wrench

Kids Definition

entrench

verb

en·​trench in-ˈtrench 

1

a

: to dig, place within, surround with, or occupy a trench especially for defense

b

: to establish solidly

2

: encroach sense 1

—used with on or upon