1
2
as in to join
to become a member of patriotic young men and women entering the armed services debutantes entering society

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to record
to put (someone or something) on a list new voters fill out a form and elections officials enter their names into the database

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in to receive
to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to the club enters only five new members a year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enter are penetrate, pierce, and probe. While all these words mean "to make way into something," enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

entered the city in triumph

Where would penetrate be a reasonable alternative to enter?

While the synonyms penetrate and enter are close in meaning, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

the enemy penetrated the fortress

When can pierce be used instead of enter?

Although the words pierce and enter have much in common, pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

pierced the boil with a lancet

When is it sensible to use probe instead of enter?

In some situations, the words probe and enter are roughly equivalent. However, probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

probed the depths of the sea

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of enter Landau, in Seoul for a Korea-US vice foreign ministerial meeting, said that the 316 South Koreans who returned home Friday on a chartered jet after being detained in Georgia will face no disadvantage when re-entering the US, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry. Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025 Intruders attempted to enter the building at night. Pj Green september 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025 For CEOs, these micro-resets can mean the difference between entering a meeting reactively or walking in with complete confidence. Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025 Charlotte entered the match with an 11-2-1 record at Bank of America Stadium. Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enter
Verb
  • Later on, water may have penetrated through cracks in the rock, depositing minerals to create the calcium sulfate veins and leopard spots.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Fewer GCRs penetrating to earth’s atmosphere would mean fewer clouds to reflect heat and thus more global warming.
    Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On Tuesday, it was reported that Indian troops had joined a military drill with Russian and Belarusian forces near Minsk, days after Russian drones entered Polish and Romanian airspace.
    Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
  • In doing so Story joined an exclusive club and now has a chance to set MLB history.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Polish military said no airspace violations were recorded on Saturday after jets were deployed in the airspace along the border with Ukraine.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Tatis has been crafty on the base paths, recording 29 steals on 35 attempts.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Guests booking stays between September 12 and December 25, 2025, can selecg the Experience More package, receiving a resort credit of up to USD $800 on dining, wellness, and curated in-residence experiences.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The Hortmans’ assassination received a flurry of coverage over the strange circumstances under which it was carried out, with pictures of Boelter in his silicone mask initially flooding social media.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Doctors struggle to access complete patient histories, researchers spend months cleaning inconsistent datasets, and hospitals face spiraling costs just to keep outdated systems running.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • This budding technique involves comparing DNA samples to those accessible on public genetic databases which law enforcement is permitted to access.
    Claire Lempert, ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After a two-year absence, Behar rejoined The View in 2015 and has remained a co-host ever since.
    Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Fixed a bug where the effect of an used Wending Grace could activate when rejoining a session after a disconnection.
    Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The runners will be listed by post position with trainer, jockey, and morning line provided.
    Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Albert Ellis, the attorney listed for Reina in the civil case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Polish officials said Russian drones pierced their airspace 19 times from late Tuesday night to Wednesday morning.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The morning sun barely pierced the haze over Maitighar Mandala, yet the atmosphere was electric.
    Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Enter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enter. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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