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 To keep adult carpet beetles from entering your home altogether, consider keeping doors and windows closed, or investing in screen covers. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 22 June 2025 The team entered the finals on a 26-game winning streak, and outscored its opponents 64-25 in its first eight tournament games. Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 21 June 2025 Lembas is a new peptide ingredient company that enters the market today with intentions of partnering with CPG brands to create food products that target the GLP-1 hormone. Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 The Angels then lost five consecutive games and entered Monday having lost nine of their last 14. Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for enter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enter
Verb
  • The key is its ability to penetrate the skin beyond the surface barrier.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
  • Microneedling produces tiny wounds in the skin that allow topical medications to penetrate more deeply while stimulating collagen production and the release of growth factors.
    Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • The Pole is entering the last year of his contract signed when joining from Bayern Munich in the ‘economic levers’ summer of 2022, and Barca as of yet has no natural heir for him other than winger Ferran Torres or Dani Olmo playing as a false 9.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • From left: Lee Cahill teaches his baby how to high-five, with Nelly the golden retriever joining in.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Strachwitz’s aim was to record Chenier singing in Creole French.
    Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025
  • South Korean arms have been popular in recent years as defense spending surged, sending shares of the country’s defense firms to record highs.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • During this time shooting stars associated with the comet may be observed emanating from a point of origin — known as a radiant — located in the constellation Bootes, from which the shower received its official designation.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 June 2025
  • Yaroslavsky said that council action is not connected to her proposal, which could receive a vote from the full council by the end of next week.
    David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Catalog how remote, hybrid and on-site users access SaaS, cloud and on-premises apps.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • Users retain control over who can access their personal information—and when.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Bottas rejoined Mercedes after ending his F1 journey with the Sauber team at the end of last year.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
  • The Duchess of Sussex rejoined Instagram in January, logging back online for the first time in five years.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • To shake things up, positions are listed by level of intrigue.
    Ben Standig, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • Wagner declined to disclose the buyer, who wasn’t listed in Rowan County public real estate records by Wednesday afternoon.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • She was found on the ground near the lifeguard stand with an umbrella stake that had pierced the front of her left shoulder and was sticking out the back of her arm by about 1 foot, Asbury Park Fire Chief Kevin Keddy told ABC News.
    Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 25 June 2025
  • The scepter pierced the ground of the Huanacaure mountain, and so rose the glimmering empire of Cuzco.
    Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Enter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enter. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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