Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense enters, present participle entering, past tense, past participle entered
1. verb
When you enter a place such as a room or building, you go into it or come into it.
[formal]
He entered the room briskly and stood near the door. [VERB noun]
Before entering the bathroom, he emptied his dirty laundry into the hamper. [VERB noun]
As soon as I entered, they stopped and turned my way. [VERB]
Synonyms: come or go in or into, arrive, set foot in somewhere, cross the threshold of somewhere More Synonyms of enter
2. verb
If you enter an organization or institution, you start to work there or become a member of it.
He entered the BBC as a general trainee. [VERB noun]
She entered a convent. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: join, start work at, begin work at, sign up for More Synonyms of enter
3. verb
If something new enters your mind, you suddenly think about it.
Whenever thoughts of his baby daughter enter his mind a smile appears on Jeremy'sface. [VERB noun]
Dreadful doubts began to enter my mind. [VERB noun]
4. verb
If it does not enter your head to do, think or say something, you do not think of doing that thing although you should have done.
It never enters his mind that anyone is better than him. [VERB noun that]
Though she enjoyed flirting with Matt, it had not entered her head to have an affairwith him. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
5. verb
If someone or something enters a particular situation or period of time, they start to be in it or part of it.
China enters a new five-year plan period next year. [VERB noun]
The war has entered its second month. [VERB noun]
A million young people enter the labour market each year. [VERB noun]
The phrase has already entered the language. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: participate in, join (in), be involved in, get involved in More Synonyms of enter
6. verb
If you enter a competition, race, or examination, you officially state that you will compete or take part in it.
I run so well I'm planning to enter some races. [VERB noun]
He entered for many competitions, winning several gold medals. [VERB + for]
To enter, simply complete the coupon on page 150. [VERB]
7. verb
If you enter someone for a race or competition, you officially state that they will compete or take part init.
Marie secretly entered him for the Championship. [VERB noun + for]
...some of the 150 projects entered for the awards. [VERB-ed]
[Also VERB noun]
8. verb
If you enter something in a notebook, register, or financial account, you write it down.
Each week she meticulously entered in her notebooks all sums received. [V n with prep/adv]
Prue entered the passage in her notebook, then read it aloud again. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: record, note, register, log More Synonyms of enter
9. verb
To enter information into a computer or database means to record it there, for example by typing it on a keyboard.
When a baby is born, they enter that baby's name into the computer. [VERB noun + into]
Postcodes will be entered into the statisticians' computers. [VERB noun into noun]
A lot less time is now spent entering the data. [VERB noun]
Phrasal verbs:
See enter into
More Synonyms of enter
enter in British English
(ˈɛntə)
verb
1.
to come or go into (a place, house, etc)
2.
to penetrate or pierce
3. (transitive)
to introduce or insert
4.
to join (a party, organization, etc)
5. (whenintr, foll by into)
to become involved or take part (in)
to enter a game
to enter into an agreement
6. (transitive)
to record (an item such as a commercial transaction) in a journal, account, register, etc
7. (transitive)
to record (a name, etc) on a list
8. (transitive)
to present or submit
to enter a proposal
9. (intransitive) theatre
to come on stage: used as a stage direction
enter Juliet
10. (whenintr, often foll by into, on, or upon)
to begin; start
to enter upon a new career
11. (intransitive; often foll byupon)
to come into possession (of)
12. (transitive)
to place (evidence, a plea, etc) before a court of law or upon the court records
13. (transitive) law
a.
to go onto and occupy (land)
b. mainly US
to file a claim to (public lands)
Derived forms
enterable (ˈenterable)
adjective
enterer (ˈenterer)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French entrer, from Latin intrāre to go in, from intrā within
enter in American English
(ˈɛntər)
verb transitive
1.
to come or go in or into
2.
to force a way into; penetrate; pierce
the bullet entered his body
3.
to put into; insert
4.
to write down in a record, list, diary, etc.; make an entry of
5.
a.
to list as a participant in a competition, race, etc.
b.
to become a participant in (a contest)
6.
to join; become a part or member of (a political party, school, club, etc.)
7.
to get (a person, etc.) admitted
8.
to start upon; begin
to enter a career
9.
to present for consideration; submit, esp. formally or officially
to enter a protest
10.
to register (a ship or cargo) at a customhouse
11.
to input (data, a password, etc.) into a computer or other electronic device
12. Law
a.
to place on record before a court
b.
to go upon or into (land or property) and take possession
c. US
to file a claim for (a parcel of public land)
verb intransitive
13.
to come or go into some place; make an entrance
also used as a stage direction meaning “he (or she) comes, or they come, on stage”
14.
to pierce; penetrate
Idioms:
enter into
enter on
Word origin
ME entren < OFr entrer < L intrare < intra, within, inside: see intra-
Examples of 'enter' in a sentence
enter
The opportunity to enter and take share is substantial.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sign up for that course or enter that competition instead of just thinking about it.
The Sun (2016)
Couples can get on the winning track by entering competitions together.
The Sun (2016)
The sun shines a light on the luckiest part of your chart so this is a key day to enter competitions.
The Sun (2016)
And when you go on to enter a contest together, you should win it.
The Sun (2016)
We've also had members enter competitions to cycle 100 miles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Spending 10 to enter a competition to win a sports car, yes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Thoughts that enter the mind should be seen as bubbles rising from the depths of the pond.
Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)
The audience may do a double take on entering the auditorium.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
For an instant a wild idea entered his mind.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
This helps at work and when you enter competitions.
The Sun (2013)
But then again he has to duck when he enters most places.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The rides are fun but the thrill comes from entering a world from a different time.
The Sun (2015)
But no sooner had the thought entered his mind than she undressed herself.
Len Deighton Bomber
Divers come to enter a spectacularly different world.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He entered a competition in which one of the prizes was to have me as a champion.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
To enter just go to the website.
The Sun (2013)
Then a thought entered his mind.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
You can still enter and compete for the 1million prize pot.
The Sun (2009)
As they keep entering vulnerable places, so we are beckoned to join them.
Bain, Roly Fools Rush In - A Call to Christian Clowning (1993)
It takes courage to enter.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But it's not all downside - the prospect of big penalties discourages any company with a good reputation from entering to compete with us.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
enter
British English: enter /ˈɛntə/ VERB
When you enter a place, you come or go into it.
He entered the room and stood near the door.
As soon as I entered, they stopped and turned my way.
American English: enter
Arabic: يَدْخُل
Brazilian Portuguese: entrar
Chinese: 进入
Croatian: ući
Czech: vstoupit
Danish: gå ind i
Dutch: binnenkomen
European Spanish: entrar en
Finnish: tulla sisään
French: entrer
German: eintreten
Greek: καταχωρώ
Italian: entrare
Japanese: 入る
Korean: ...에 들어가다
Norwegian: gå inn
Polish: wejść
European Portuguese: entrar
Romanian: a intra
Russian: входить
Latin American Spanish: entrar introducir
Swedish: gå in
Thai: เข้า
Turkish: girmek bir yere
Ukrainian: входити
Vietnamese: đi vào
All related terms of 'enter'
entero-
indicating an intestine
enter on
to begin ; set out on; start
re-enter
If you re-enter a place, organization, or area of activity that you have left, you return to it.
enter into
If you enter into something such as an agreement , discussion , or relationship , you become involved in it. You can also say that two people enter into something.
enter politics
Politics are the actions or activities concerned with achieving and using power in a country or society. The verb that follows politics may be either singular or plural .
enter a sector
A particular sector of a country's economy is the part connected with that specified type of industry.
reenter
to enter again (in various senses )
enter the lists
to engage in a conflict , controversy , etc
enter a partnership
Partnership or a partnership is a relationship in which two or more people, organizations, or countries work together as partners.
enter into the spirit
If you enter into the spirit of something, you take part in it in an enthusiastic way.
Chinese translation of 'enter'
enter
(ˈɛntəʳ)
vt
(frm)[room, building]进(進)入 (jìnrù)
[army, profession, Parliament]入 (rù)
[race, competition]参(參)加 (cānjiā)
[new phase, period]开(開)始进(進)入 (kāishǐ jìnrù)
(= write down) (in book) 登录(錄) (dēnglù)
(Comput)[data]输(輸)入 (shūrù)
vi
(frm, = come or go in) 进(進)来(來) (jìnlái)
to enter sb for sth (for competition, race) 给(給)某人报(報)名参(參)加某事 (gèi mǒurén bàomíng cānjiā mǒushì)
as the war enters its second month当(當)战(戰)争(爭)进(進)入第2个(個)月时(時) (dāng zhànzhēng jìnrù dì'èr gè yuè shí)