en·ter
Pronounced:
/ˈɛntɚ/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
en·ters; en·tered; en·ter·ingMeaning:
1 : to go or come into (something) [+ obj] ▪ Knock on the door before you enter the room. ▪ The medication will quickly enter the blood stream. ▪ The river enters the sea near here. [no obj] ▪ Knock before you enter. = Knock before entering. [=knock on the door before you open it to go into the room] ▪ You may enter now. —opposite exit
2 [+ obj] a : to begin to be in (an organization, school, etc.) ▪ Our son will be entering college next year. b : to cause (someone) to be in an organization, school, etc. ▪ enter a child in kindergarten ▪ (Brit) We entered him for a good school.
3 [+ obj] a : to start to do something ▪ He was a teacher before he entered politics. [=before he began his political career] ▪ He's been faced with many scandals since he entered office. [=since he began his term in office] ▪ The new battleship is scheduled to enter service next spring. b : to begin to be in (a particular situation, period of time, etc.) ▪ enter middle age ▪ an actor who's just now entering his prime ▪ The strike has now entered its second week. ▪ We've entered a new phase in our relationship. ▪ The country is entering a period of prosperity. ▪ Entering [=at the start of] the season, he was expected to be an important part of the team. ▪ The word has entered common usage [=become commonly used] in recent decades. c : to appear for the first time in (something) ▪ He entered the game in the fifth inning. ▪ The company has several new products now entering the marketplace.
4 a : to officially say that you will be in a race, competition, etc. [+ obj] ▪ She entered every race. ▪ Several leading players have entered the tournament. [no obj] ▪ She won the race last year, but this year she decided not to enter. ▪ (Brit) He entered for the tournament. b [+ obj] : to officially say that (someone) will be in a race, competition, etc. ▪ Her coach entered her in every race. ◊If you are entered in a race, competition, etc., you are one of the people who are competing in it. ▪ She was entered in every race.
5 [+ obj] a : to include (something) in a book, list, etc. ▪ The teacher entered my name on the roster. ▪ enter an item in a journal ▪ These words are not yet entered in the dictionary. [=they do not yet appear in the dictionary] b : to type in (words, data, etc.) on a computer ▪ You need to enter your password in order to log on. ▪ Please enter the new data in the spreadsheet.
6 [+ obj] : to make or state (something) in a formal and official way ▪ enter a complaint ▪ The defendant entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
2 [+ obj] a : to begin to be in (an organization, school, etc.) ▪ Our son will be entering college next year. b : to cause (someone) to be in an organization, school, etc. ▪ enter a child in kindergarten ▪ (Brit) We entered him for a good school.
3 [+ obj] a : to start to do something ▪ He was a teacher before he entered politics. [=before he began his political career] ▪ He's been faced with many scandals since he entered office. [=since he began his term in office] ▪ The new battleship is scheduled to enter service next spring. b : to begin to be in (a particular situation, period of time, etc.) ▪ enter middle age ▪ an actor who's just now entering his prime ▪ The strike has now entered its second week. ▪ We've entered a new phase in our relationship. ▪ The country is entering a period of prosperity. ▪ Entering [=at the start of] the season, he was expected to be an important part of the team. ▪ The word has entered common usage [=become commonly used] in recent decades. c : to appear for the first time in (something) ▪ He entered the game in the fifth inning. ▪ The company has several new products now entering the marketplace.
4 a : to officially say that you will be in a race, competition, etc. [+ obj] ▪ She entered every race. ▪ Several leading players have entered the tournament. [no obj] ▪ She won the race last year, but this year she decided not to enter. ▪ (Brit) He entered for the tournament. b [+ obj] : to officially say that (someone) will be in a race, competition, etc. ▪ Her coach entered her in every race. ◊If you are entered in a race, competition, etc., you are one of the people who are competing in it. ▪ She was entered in every race.
5 [+ obj] a : to include (something) in a book, list, etc. ▪ The teacher entered my name on the roster. ▪ enter an item in a journal ▪ These words are not yet entered in the dictionary. [=they do not yet appear in the dictionary] b : to type in (words, data, etc.) on a computer ▪ You need to enter your password in order to log on. ▪ Please enter the new data in the spreadsheet.
6 [+ obj] : to make or state (something) in a formal and official way ▪ enter a complaint ▪ The defendant entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
enter into [phrasal verb]
enter into (something) 1 : to begin to be in or to take part in (something) ▪ enter into a discussion ▪ enter into an agreement ▪ The two companies finally entered into a partnership.
2 : to be a part of or to influence (something, such as a choice or decision) ▪ You shouldn't allow your prejudices to enter into your decision.
3 : to share or become involved in (something) ▪ You need to enter into the spirit of the occasion.
2 : to be a part of or to influence (something, such as a choice or decision) ▪ You shouldn't allow your prejudices to enter into your decision.
3 : to share or become involved in (something) ▪ You need to enter into the spirit of the occasion.
enter on/upon [phrasal verb]
enter on/upon (something) : to begin to be in or to take part in (something) ▪ She will soon be entering on [=starting] a new career. ▪ The country is entering upon a period of prosperity.
enter the picture/scene
1 : to become involved in something ▪ The company went through many drastic changes after its new owner entered the scene.
2 or enter (into) the equation : to become something that must be considered or dealt with ▪ Once politics enters the picture, chances for a quick settlement are greatly reduced. ▪ Money didn't enter the equation when he offered to help. [=he didn't expect to be paid for helping]
2 or enter (into) the equation : to become something that must be considered or dealt with ▪ Once politics enters the picture, chances for a quick settlement are greatly reduced. ▪ Money didn't enter the equation when he offered to help. [=he didn't expect to be paid for helping]
enter your mind/head
: to occur in your thoughts ▪ The idea of quitting never entered my mind. [=I never thought of quitting]