Synonyms of enter

enter 1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈen-tər 

1

as in to penetrate

to go or come in or into

the hikers entered the cave with considerable caution

Synonyms & Similar Words

• penetrate
• access
• pierce
• invade
• step into
• set foot in
• burst (in or into)
• breeze (in)
• infiltrate
• drop in
• trespass
• encroach
• intrude
• pop (in)
• waltz (in)
• wander (into)
• stray (into)
• infringe
• gate-crash
• barge (in)
• crash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• leave
• depart
• exit

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

• join
• rejoin
• enlist (in)
• enroll (in)
• sign up (for)
• reenter
• sign on (for)
• get in
• reenlist
• reenroll
• re-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• withdraw
• quit
• drop out
• demit

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

• record
• list
• register
• enroll
• file
• catalog
• schedule
• index
• slate
• book
• inscribe
• classify
• compile
• card
• note
• put down
• tabulate
• reschedule
• tally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delete

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

• receive
• admit
• take
• welcome
• entertain
• confirm
• ratify
• fellowship

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refuse
• bar
• reject
• dismiss
• ban
• disallow
• decline
• disapprove
• exile
• expel
• banish
• throw out
• oust
• deport
• ostracize
• blacklist
• blackball

enter (into or upon)

2 of 2

verb (2)

as in to begin

to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

a series of counseling sessions intended to help young couples about to enter into the trials and tribulations of marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• begin
• strike (into)
• start
• commence
• embark (on or upon)
• open
• get off
• fall (to)
• get going
• get to
• launch
• set about
• found
• lead off
• create
• kick off
• generate
• initiate
• take on
• take up
• adopt
• organize
• originate
• establish
• invent
• innovate
• institute
• pioneer
• get around (to)
• set up
• inaugurate
• spawn
• get down (to)
• embrace
• father
• get round (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• end
• finish
• stop
• terminate
• conclude
• cease
• quit
• complete
• lay off
• discontinue
• close
• leave
• halt
• abandon
• knock off
• destroy
• desist
• abolish
• extinguish
• forsake
• phase out
• demolish
• exterminate

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

Recent Examples of enter

Verb

Wafting odors of 100-octane gasoline and rumbling purrs of V8 engines punched through the overcast morning at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday as the Velocity Invitational car meet entered its second day. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026

Months before her son Rico entered free agency after running for more than 1,000 yards for Carolina, Leslie Dowdle rang Rico just minutes after the Pittsburgh Steelers announced that Mike McCarthy would replace Mike Tomlin as head coach in January. —CBS News, 31 May 2026

In December, Russia announced that its latest intermediate range nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system entered service in Belarus. —ABC News, 31 May 2026

Ryan Bilka then entered and promptly walked Blake Cyr to put two on. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 May 2026

Phrases Containing enter

• enter (into or upon)