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

The vote margin not only will reveal the extent of the intellectual divide on the committee between those who think inflation is temporary and those who believe price pressures are becoming entrenched. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Villagers describe losing orchards, tobacco fields and beehives along with their houses, accusing Lebanon’s government of abandoning them as Israel entrenches its military presence in southern Lebanon. — Fadi Tawil, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

The groups also argue such a lack of transparency could entrench the most powerful labs and models with open-source companies in the dark, and that Congress should be looped in as well. — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026

The sport’s most famous stadium nicknames have emerged from blowouts and marketing pitches, architectural quirks and television broadcasts, each following a different route from casual description to something entrenched in tradition. — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 5 Sep. 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