From Middle English entren, from Old French entrer, from Latin intrō (“enter”, verb), from intrā (“inside”). Has been spelled as "enter" for several centuries even in the United Kingdom, although British English and the English of many Commonwealth Countries (e.g. Australia, Canada) retain the "re" ending for many words such as centre, fibre, spectre, theatre, calibre, sombre, lustre, and litre.
Meanings
The action of entering; an instance of entering.
(alt-of, alternative) Alternative spelling of Enter (“the computer key”).
From Middle English entren, from Old French entrer, from Latin intrō (“enter”, verb), from intrā (“inside”). Has been spelled as "enter" for several centuries even in the United Kingdom, although British English and the English of many Commonwealth Countries (e.g. Australia, Canada) retain the "re" ending for many words such as centre, fibre, spectre, theatre, calibre, sombre, lustre, and litre.
Meanings
(intransitive) To go or come into an enclosed or partially enclosed space.
You should knock before you enter, unless you want to see me naked.
We determined that the car driver’s transportation of multiple teen passengers, limited driving experience, and likely impairment from effects of cannabis at the time of the crash adversely affected her judgment of the danger of entering the intersection in front of the approaching combination vehicle. 2024, NTSB, Intersection Crash Between Passenger Car and Combination Vehicle, Tishomingo, Oklahoma, March 22, 2022:
In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.[…]Strangers might enter the room, but they were made to feel that they were there on sufferance: they were received with distance and suspicion. 1892, Walter Besant, chapter III, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:
[…]you can fynde in youre heartes to assaulte her with rebellion, or in any wise [ways] suffer any one eyvil motion to enter into your thoughtes against her? 1555, John Proctor, The historie of Wyates rebellion, with the order and maner of resisting the same, …, page 86:
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 3:5:
(transitive) To cause to go (into), or to be received (into); to put in; to insert; to cause to be admitted.
to enter a boy at college, a horse for a race, etc.
to enter a knife into a piece of wood
(figuratively) To go or come into (a state or profession).
My twelve-year-old son will be entering his teens next year.
She had planned to enter the legal profession.
Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. … But the scandals kept coming, and so we entered stage three – what therapists call "bargaining". 2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21:
(transitive) To type (something) into a computer; to input.
Enter your user name and password.
(transitive) To record (something) in an account, ledger, etc.
Each amount entered in the debit column of the journal is posted by entering it on the credit side/column of an account in the ledger. 2003, A. Mukherjee, M. Hanif, Financial Accounting, →ISBN, page 27:
(intransitive, of an actor) To come on to the stage during a performance. ▸ Used as a stage direction, usually preceding the name of the character who appears.
(figuratively, intransitive, of an actor) To come on to the stage during a performance. ▸ Used in the manner of a stage direction: to enter the picture, to become relevant.
I’m usually a shoulder bag kind of girl, just because it fits my vibe more. But when I’m on my feet for hours—running through crowded airports or touring a new city—the last thing I want to think about is my stuff. Enter: A good crossbody. 2026 April 8, Megan Uy, “12 Best Crossbody Bags for Travel That’ll Hold All Your Stuff Without Messing Up Your Vacay Outfit”, in Cosmopolitan:
(intransitive) To become a party to an agreement, treaty, etc.
I am pleased to notify the Congress of my intent to enter into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Government of Singapore. 2003 February 4, The President of the United States, “NOTIFICATION TO ENTER INTO A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF SINGAPORE”, in U.S. Government Printing Office, retrieved 09 Sep 2013:
(intransitive) To become effective; to come into effect.
This Act shall enter into force on 01 March 1998. 2005, United Nations, Dispositions Législatives Et Réglementaires Nationales Relatives À la Prévention Et À L'élimination Du Terrorisme International, →ISBN, page 215:
To go into or upon, as lands, and take actual possession of them.
(transitive) To place in regular form before the court, usually in writing; to put upon record in proper from and order.
to enter a writ, appearance, rule, or judgment
To make report of (a vessel or its cargo) at the custom house; to submit a statement of (imported goods), with the original invoices, to the proper customs officer for estimating the duties. See entry.
(US, dated, historical, transitive) To file, or register with the land office, the required particulars concerning (a quantity of public land) in order to entitle a person to a right of preemption.
Under existing laws governing the qualifications of an alien to enter 160 acres or more of the public domain he is only required to file his declaration of intent to become a citizen. 1887, United States General Land Office, Annual Report of the Commissioner of General Land Office, US Government Printing Office, page 82:
To deposit for copyright the title or description of (a book, picture, map, etc.).
entered according to act of Congress
(obsolete, transitive) To initiate; to introduce favourably.
This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings, / Shall enter me with him. c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
(formal, intransitive) To begin (a regular activity or job); to undertake; to take up.
[…] I entered, that same day, on a regular occupation of pushing Miss Havisham in this chair […] round her own room, and across the landing, and round the other room. 1860 December – 1861 August, Charles Dickens, chapter XII, in Great Expectations […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published October 1861, →OCLC, page 199:
wa intrer (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fj curu (to go into (a room, etc.)) · bua орохо (to go into (a room, etc.)) · jv mlebu (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hi भीतर जाना (to go into (a room, etc.)) · gd cuir a-steach (to insert) · es ingresar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hu bejegyez (to record) · bn ঢোকা (to go into (a room, etc.)) · is ganga inn (to go into (a room, etc.)) · mn элсэх (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ln kota (to go into (a room, etc.)) · az daxil etmək (to type into a computer) · ceb sulod (to go into (a room, etc.)) · de betreten (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fi astua (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sl vstopiti (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ktu kukota (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ta புகு (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fa درآمدن (to go into (a room, etc.)) · kjh кірерге (to go into (a room, etc.)) · es entrar (to insert) · ajp خَشّ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · eo entajpi (to type into a computer) · da indgå i (to go into (a room, etc.)) · la invado (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ajp فات (to go into (a room, etc.)) · th เข้า (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sh улазити (to go into (a room, etc.)) · shn ၶဝ်ႈ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · be уязджа́ць (to go into (a room, etc.)) · be ўвайсці́ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ru въезжа́ть (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ajp دَخَل (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ga iontráil (to record) · hu feljegyez (to record) · az girmək (to go into (a room, etc.)) · lv ienākt (to go into (a room, etc.)) · bn প্রবেশ করা (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hu behatol (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ta தட்டச்சு செய் (to type into a computer) · yi אַרײַנגיין (to go into (a room, etc.)) · pl wejść (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sl vstopati (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fi panna (to insert) · ur درج کرنا (to type into a computer) · nan-hbl 入來 /入来 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · no komme inn (to go into (a room, etc.)) · la ingredior (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ms masuk (to go into (a room, etc.)) · el εγγράφω (to type into a computer) · cmn 進入 /进入 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sh ući (to go into (a room, etc.)) · cy cofnodi (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sq shti (to insert) · de eingeben (to record) · sh ulaziti (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fa وارد کردن (to type into a computer) · lv ieiet (to go into (a room, etc.)) · pt introduzir (to type into a computer) · nap trase (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fi astua sisään (to go into (a room, etc.)) · az daxil etmək (to insert) · ba керетеү (to type into a computer) · dlm entrur (to go into (a room, etc.)) · yue 入嚟 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · be увахо́дзіць (to go into (a room, etc.)) · koi пырны (to go into (a room, etc.)) · scn jùnciri (to type into a computer) · et sisse kandma (to insert) · fa وارد شدن (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ro a intra (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ar أَدْخَلَ (to insert) · sv inträda (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fi iskeä (to insert) · tr işlemek (to type into a computer) · hi अंकन (to record) · akk 𒆭 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · gu પેસવું (to go into (a room, etc.)) · txb yäp- (to go into (a room, etc.)) · es adentrarse (to go into (a room, etc.)) · it digitare (to type into a computer) · tet tama (to go into (a room, etc.)) · qu yaykuy (to go into (a room, etc.)) · nl invoeren (to type into a computer) · za haeuj (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ln kɔ́tɔ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hi डालना (to insert) · az daxil olmaq (to go into (a room, etc.)) · la intrō (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sc intrare (to go into (a room, etc.)) · pro intrar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fr entrer (to go into (a room, etc.)) · oc intrar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · mn орох (to go into (a room, etc.)) · as সোমা (to go into (a room, etc.)) · as ভৰোৱা (to insert) · rup ãntru (to go into (a room, etc.)) · lo ເຂົ້າ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · km ចូល (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ba индереү (to type into a computer) · es ingresar (to type into a computer) · fi syöttää (to insert) · vi vào (to go into (a room, etc.)) · so gelid (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hi घुसाना (to insert) · gl entrar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · xal орх (to go into (a room, etc.)) · my ဝင် (to go into (a room, etc.)) · nap entrà (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hu bevisz (to insert) · es contabilizar (to record) · de eingeben (to type into a computer) · id memasukkan (to insert) · tk girmek (to go into (a room, etc.)) · es ingresar (to insert) · fi kirjata (to record) · fo fara inn (to go into (a room, etc.)) · uk ввійти́ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · eo eniri (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sk vstúpiť (to go into (a room, etc.)) · br antreal (to go into (a room, etc.)) · eu sartu (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sh ући (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hu felír (to record) · pt inserir (to type into a computer) · tr girmek (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ur داخل کرنا (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ne पस्नु (to go into (a room, etc.)) · mi uru (to go into (a room, etc.)) · aln hi (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ar دَخَلَ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sc intràe (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ru ввести́ (to type into a computer) · gd gabh a-steach (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ln yingela (to go into (a room, etc.)) · cs zadat (to type into a computer) · scn tràsiri (to go into (a room, etc.)) · cs vstoupit (to go into (a room, etc.)) · et trükima (to type into a computer) · is koma inn (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sq hyn (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ba кереү (to go into (a room, etc.)) · mr प्रवेश करणे (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hu bejön (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fj curu (to type into a computer) · fi tulla (to go into (a room, etc.)) · de hereingehen (to go into (a room, etc.)) · nan-hbl 入去 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · uz kirmoq (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ka შემოსავლა (to go into (a room, etc.)) · cmn 輸入 /输入 (to type into a computer) · ta நுழை (to go into (a room, etc.)) · de eintreten (to go into (a room, etc.)) · grc εἰσβαίνω (to go into (a room, etc.)) · da gå ind i (to go into (a room, etc.)) · tt керергә (to go into (a room, etc.)) · yua okol (to go into (a room, etc.)) · gld и- (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ko 들어가다 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · uk уходи́ти (to go into (a room, etc.)) · tg дохил шудан (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fr saisir (to type into a computer) · gd thig a-steach (to go into (a room, etc.)) · uk входи́ти (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ru вписа́ть (to record) · ta உள்ளிடு (to record) · inc-oas পেষ্ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ja 入る (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hu beemel (to insert) · rm antrar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · la ineō (to go into (a room, etc.)) · la introeo (to go into (a room, etc.)) · it immettere (to type into a computer) · hu beilleszt (to insert) · bg въвеждам (to type into a computer) · mi whakauru (to insert) · gd cuir a-steach (to type into a computer) · et sisenema (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sk vojsť (to go into (a room, etc.)) · got 𐌹𐌽𐌽𐌲𐌰𐌲𐌲𐌰𐌽 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · et tippima (to type into a computer) · udm пырыны (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ta செருகு (to insert) · ru въе́хать (to go into (a room, etc.)) · id masuk (to go into (a room, etc.)) · pap drenta (to go into (a room, etc.)) · be уе́хаць (to go into (a room, etc.)) · kk кіру (to go into (a room, etc.)) · co entra (to go into (a room, etc.)) · be ўпі́сваць (to record) · hu begépel (to type into a computer) · ta தட்டச்சு (to type into a computer) · as সোমোওৱা (to insert) · got 𐌹𐌽𐌽𐌰𐍄𐌲𐌰𐌲𐌲𐌰𐌽 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · enm entren (to go into (a room, etc.)) · de hereinkommen (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ba инеү (to go into (a room, etc.)) · es entrar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · arz دخل (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hu benevez (to insert) · evn ӣмӣ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ru вводи́ть (to type into a computer) · ta புகுத்து (to insert) · mt daħal (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ang infaran (to go into (a room, etc.)) · be увайсці́ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ast entrar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · pl wchodzić (to go into (a room, etc.)) · tyv кирер (to go into (a room, etc.)) · vi đi vào (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hi प्रवेश करना (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ms masukkan (to type into a computer) · mi tāuru (to type into a computer) · gu પ્રવેશવું (to go into (a room, etc.)) · et sisse panema (to insert) · be ўпіса́ць (to record) · tl pumasok (to go into (a room, etc.)) · lt įeiti (to go into (a room, etc.)) · tr girmek (to type into a computer) · fi kirjoittaa (to type into a computer) · hu beír (to type into a computer) · enm entren (to record) · ru зайти́ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · bn ঢোকানো (to insert) · he נִכְנַס (to go into (a room, etc.)) · eve ӣдэ̄й (to go into (a room, etc.)) · haw komo (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sq fus (to insert) · uk увійти́ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ro introduce (to type into a computer) · fr taper (to type into a computer) · af ingaan (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ar أَدْخَلَ (to type into a computer) · de reinkommen (to go into (a room, etc.)) · et sisse astuma (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hu behelyez (to insert) · grc εἰσέρχομαι (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sa विशति (to go into (a room, etc.)) · da gå ind (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hu megad (to type into a computer) · ru заходи́ть (to go into (a room, etc.)) · tar bakí (to go into (a room, etc.)) · de reingehen (to go into (a room, etc.)) · da indtaste (to type into a computer) · te ప్రవేశించు (to go into (a room, etc.)) · rm entrar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · swb ungia (to go into (a room, etc.)) · si ඇතුල් කරනවා (to go into (a room, etc.)) · bg въведа́ (to type into a computer) · pt entrar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · mi kuhu (to insert) · mwl antrar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ru войти́ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · tft wosa (to go into (a room, etc.)) · bg вли́зам (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sah киир (to go into (a room, etc.)) · az yazdırmaq (to record) · tg даромадан (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ary دخل (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sq shtyp (to type into a computer) · fi laittaa (to insert) · ky кирүү (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sq fit (gheg) (to insert) · ko 들어오다 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · de hineingehen (to go into (a room, etc.)) · be упі́сваць (to record) · io enirar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · scn prujùnciri (to type into a computer) · gd rach a-steach (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hu belép (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ka შეტანა (to type into a computer) · bg вля́за (to go into (a room, etc.)) · te ప్రవేశపెట్టు (to insert) · vi vô (to go into (a room, etc.)) · th พิมพ์ (to type into a computer) · esu iter- (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fi syöttää (to type into a computer) · hu bemegy (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hrx ningehn (to go into (a room, etc.)) · et sisestama (to insert) · mk влезе (to go into (a room, etc.)) · da taste (to type into a computer) · acw خَشّ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ru впи́сывать (to record) · et sisestama (to type into a computer) · nl binnengaan (to go into (a room, etc.)) · pam lungub (to go into (a room, etc.)) · mk влегува (to go into (a room, etc.)) · mi tomo (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sv mata in (to type into a computer) · ca entrar (to go into (a room, etc.)) · wa moussî (to go into (a room, etc.)) · mad lebbu (to go into (a room, etc.)) · khb ᦃᧁᧉ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ga iontráil (to type into a computer) · cmn 進 /进 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · la imbitō (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ka შესვლა (to go into (a room, etc.)) · fur jentrâ (to go into (a room, etc.)) · nv yah iighááh (to go into (a room, etc.)) · th ป้อน (to type into a computer) · bn সামানো (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ckt рэк (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sw kuingia (to go into (a room, etc.)) · es adentrar (to insert) · el μπαίνω (to go into (a room, etc.)) · cs vstupovat (to go into (a room, etc.)) · rm entrer (to go into (a room, etc.)) · be упіса́ць (to record) · ta நுழை (to insert) · nku têketin (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hy մտնել (to go into (a room, etc.)) · gd inntrig (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sk vkročiť (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ja 入力する (to type into a computer) · it entrare (to go into (a room, etc.)) · hil abáy (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ko 들다 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · th เข้ามา (to go into (a room, etc.)) · sc intrai (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ka ჩაწერა (to type into a computer) · ru входи́ть (to go into (a room, etc.)) · ktu kota (to go into (a room, etc.)) · egy aq-q:D54 (to go into (a room, etc.)) · acw دَخَل (to go into (a room, etc.)) · be ўвахо́дзіць (to go into (a room, etc.))