entered; entering ˈen-t(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to go or come in
2
: to come or gain admission into a group : join
—often used with into
3
a
: to make a beginning
entering upon a career
b
: to begin to consider a subject
—usually used with into or upon
4
: to go upon land for the purpose of taking possession
5
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
6
: to play a part : be a factor
other considerations enter when money is involved
1
: to come or go into
enter a room
3
: to cause to be received or admitted
enter a child at a school
4
: to put in : insert
enter the new data into the computer
5
a
: to make a beginning in
enter politics
b
: to go into (a particular period of time)
enter middle age
6
: to become a member of or an active participant in
enter the university
enter a race
7
: to make report of (a ship or its cargo) to customs authorities
8
: to place in proper form before a court of law or upon record
enter a writ
9
: to go into or upon and take actual possession of (something, such as land)
10
: to put formally on record
entering a complaint
see also:
Examples of enter in a Sentence
Verb Knock on the door before you enter the room. The medication will quickly enter the blood stream. The river enters the sea near here. Our son will be entering college next year. enter a child in kindergarten The new battleship is scheduled to enter service next spring. 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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026 Leading the Padres 8-5 entering the ninth at Coors Field on Thursday afternoon, the Rockies were on the cusp of clinching the three-game series. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026 The Patriots entered Thursday with 11 total picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026 Dover entered Thursday up just shy of 11% year to date, essentially in line with the broader industrial sector . —Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enter
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
As for the 49ers’ division rivals, two running backs (both from Notre Dame) and a quarterback entered the NFC West. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026 Leading the Padres 8-5 entering the ninth at Coors Field on Thursday afternoon, the Rockies were on the cusp of clinching the three-game series. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026 The Patriots entered Thursday with 11 total picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026 Dover entered Thursday up just shy of 11% year to date, essentially in line with the broader industrial sector . —Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enter
Cite this Entry
“Enter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/enter. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
enter
verb
en·ter ˈent-ər
entered; entering ˈent-ə-riŋ
ˈen-triŋ
1
: to go or come in or into
enter a room
2
: penetrate sense 1b, pierce
the needle enters the skin at an angle
3
: to cause to be admitted to : enroll
enter a child in kindergarten
4
a
: to become a member of
b
: to take part in : join
enter a race
enter into a discussion
5
: to make a beginning
enter into business
6
: to take possession
entered upon their inheritance
7
a
: to set down in a book or list
entered my name on the roster
b
: to put in or into : insert
enter data into the computer program
8
: to place formally before a legal authority (as a court)
enter a complaint
Legal Definition
enter
intransitive verb
en·ter
: to go or come in
specifically : to go upon real property by right of entry especially to take possession
—often used in deeds and leases
lessor shall have the right to enter and take possession
1
: to come or go into
he breaks into and enters a vehicle—Code of Alabama
see also break, breaking and entering
Code of Alabama
3
: to put in correct form before a court or on a record
entered judgment against the defendant
entering a plea
compare render
4
: to go upon (real property) by right of entry especially to take possession
if the lessee defaults, the lessor may enter the premises
compare distrain
enterable adjective
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