enter
verb/ˈentə(r)/
/ˈentər/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they enter | /ˈentə(r)/ /ˈentər/ |
| he / she / it enters | /ˈentəz/ /ˈentərz/ |
| past simple entered | /ˈentəd/ /ˈentərd/ |
| past participle entered | /ˈentəd/ /ˈentərd/ |
| -ing form entering | /ˈentərɪŋ/ /ˈentərɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] (not usually used in the passive) (formal) to come or go into something
- Knock before you enter.
- Enter Hamlet (= for example as stage directions in the text of a play).
- enter something Someone entered the room behind me.
- people who enter the country illegally
- Where did the bullet enter the body?
- (figurative) A note of defiance entered her voice.
- (figurative) It never entered my head (= I never thought) that she would tell him about me.
Extra Examples- He stood back to allow us to enter.
- She was refused permission to enter the country.
- The dancers entered from the side of the stage.
- They pass each other as they enter and exit the building.
- We entered through a large iron gate.
- I knocked and a bored voice said, ‘Enter’.
- No one was allowed to enter the room while the police were there.
- The burglars must have entered through a window.
- No one was seen entering or leaving the building.
- Employees must be wearing safety equipment before entering the work area.
- They do not qualify for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.
- On the following day, troops entered the city.
- Foreign journalists were refused permission to enter the country.
- The building is entered via a gate from the sidewalk.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- illegally
- cautiously
- quickly
- …
- allow somebody/something to
- permit somebody/something to
- forbid somebody to
- …
- by
- through
- from
- …
- enter and exit
- enter and leave
Definitions on the go
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- [transitive, intransitive] to put your name on the list for an exam, a race, a competition, etc.; to do this for somebody
- enter something Over a thousand children entered the competition.
- enter somebody/something in something Irish trainers have entered several horses in the race.
- Her mum entered her in the baby contest.
- enter somebody/something for something How many students have been entered for the exam?
- enter (for something) Only four British players have entered for the championship.
- We're having a class quiz and all the children have entered.
Extra ExamplesTopics Sports: other sportsb1- Employees of Telegraph Newspapers Ltd are not eligible to enter the competition.
- I wrote a novel and entered it for the competition.
- [transitive] enter something to begin or become involved in an activity, a situation, etc.
- Several new firms have now entered the market.
- The US entered the war in 1917.
- The investigation has entered a new phase.
- The strike is entering its fourth week.
- She graduated in 2017 with plans to enter the financial world.
Extra Examples- The programme is now entering the final stage.
- The country was entering a period of economic prosperity.
- More women are now entering traditionally male-dominated fields.
- The fear that the economy is entering uncharted waters is unfounded.
- In 1652 Lully entered the service of Louis XIV.
- We knew we were entering new territory.
- [transitive, no passive] enter something (formal) to become a member of an institution; to start working in an organization or a profession
- to enter a school/college/university
- to enter politics
- to enter Parliament (= become an MP)
- to enter the Church (= become a priest)
- to enter the legal/medical profession
Extra Examples- He did not wish to enter the Church like his brothers.
- I entered politics late in life.
- It was his aim to enter the Church.
- She entered Parliament in 2010.
- He entered college in 2023.
- [transitive] to put names, numbers, details, etc. in a list, book or computer
- enter something in something Enter your name and occupation in the boxes (= on a form).
- enter something into something to enter data into a computer
- enter something on something to enter figures on a spreadsheet
- enter something You may need to enter this information manually.
Extra Examples- Please enter all your personal details on the form provided.
- Your details have been entered in our database.
- He entered the details of the case into a file.
- The notebook window is where you can enter and display data.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- manually
- automatically
- in
- into
- on
- …
- [transitive] enter something (formal) to say something officially so that it can be recorded
- to enter a plea of not guilty (= at the beginning of a court case)
- to enter an offer
Extra Examples- Her solicitor entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf.
- The jury entered a verdict of acquittal.
see also entrance1, entry
come/go in
exam/competition
begin activity
join institution/start work
write information
say officially
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French entrer, from Latin intrare, from intra ‘within’.
Idioms
See enter in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee enter in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishcome/enter into force
- (of a law, rule, etc.) to start being used
- When do the new regulations come into force?
- The new law comes into force as from midnight tomorrow.
enter somebody’s/your name (for something)
(also put somebody’s/your name down (for something))
- to apply for a place at a school, in a competition, etc. for somebody or yourself
- Have you entered your name for the quiz yet?
- They’ve already put his name down for Eton College.
- Have you put your name down for the school play?
Check pronunciation:
enter