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enter

verb en·ter \ˈen-tər\

: to go or come into (something)

: to begin to be in (an organization, school, etc.)

: to cause (someone) to be in an organization, school, etc.

en·tereden·ter·ing \ˈen-t(ə-)riŋ\

Full Definition of ENTER

intransitive verb

: to go or come in

: to come or gain admission into a group : join —often used with into

a : to make a beginning <entering upon a career>

b : to begin to consider a subject —usually used with into or upon

: to go upon land for the purpose of taking possession

a : to come onstage —usually used in the subjunctive as a stage direction <enter Hamlet reading>

b : to come into a preestablished situation or context like an actor coming onstage —usually used in the subjunctive <enter the new principal with her radical ideas>

: to play a part : be a factor <other considerations enter when money is involved>

transitive verb

: to come or go into <enter a room>

: inscribe, register <enter the names of qualified voters>

: to cause to be received or admitted <enter a child at a school>

: to put in : insert <enter the new data into the computer>

a : to make a beginning in <enter politics>

b : to go into (a particular period of time) <enter middle age>

: to become a member of or an active participant in <enter the university> <enter a race>

: to make report of (a ship or its cargo) to customs authorities

: to place in proper form before a court of law or upon record <enter a writ>

: to go into or upon and take actual possession of (as land)

: to put formally on record <entering a complaint>

— en·ter·able \ˈen-t(ə-)rə-bəl\ adjective

— enter into

: to make oneself a party to or in <enter into an agreement>

: to form or be part of <your prejudices shouldn't enter into it>

: to participate or share in <enter into the spirit of the occasion>

— enter the lists

: to engage in a fight or struggle

See enter defined for English-language learners

See enter defined for kids

Origin of ENTER

Middle English entren, from Anglo-French entrer, from Latin intrare, from intra within; akin to Latin inter between — more at inter-

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to ENTER

Synonyms: access, penetrate, pierce, set foot in, step into

Antonyms: depart, exit, leave

Synonym Discussion of ENTER

enter, penetrate, pierce, probe 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>. penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance <the enemy penetrated the fortress>. pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument <pierced the boil with a lancet>. probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge <probed the depths of the sea>.