enter
enter
Pronunciation
enter: /ˈɛntər/
en-: /ɛn/
-ter: /tər/
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: enter
Third-person singular present: enters
Present participle: entering
Past tense: entered
Past participle: entered
Noun:
enter (less common as a standalone noun, usually as part of a compound like "door enter")
entry (more common related noun)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To come or go into a place or area.
Synonyms: go in, come in, ingress, penetrate, access
Antonyms: exit, leave, depart, withdraw
Definition 2: To become involved in a particular activity, organization, or state.
Synonyms: join, engage in, participate in, embark on, commence
Antonyms: withdraw from, leave, abandon, quit
Definition 3: To record or put information into a system, book, or document.
Synonyms: input, log, record, register, list
Antonyms: delete, remove, erase, expunge
Noun (less common, usually inferred from the verb "to enter")
Definition 1: The act or process of coming or going into a place. (More commonly expressed as "entry.")
Synonyms: ingress, admission, access, entrance
Antonyms: exit, departure, egress
Examples of Use
Books: "He paused at the threshold, reluctant to enter the dimly lit chamber." (From a fantasy novel)
Newspapers: "The new legislation will allow more foreign companies to enter the domestic market, fostering increased competition." (As seen in The Wall Street Journal, June 2024)
Online Publications: "Users must enter their credentials to access the secure portal." (From a tech blog, January 2024)
Entertainment Mediums (Film/TV): A character in a crime drama might say, "We need to enter the building quietly and secure the perimeter."
Entertainment Platforms (Video Games): On-screen instructions in a role-playing game might prompt, "Press 'X' to enter the dungeon."
General Public Discourse: During a conversation about a new business, someone might remark, "They're hoping to enter the European market by next year."
Official Documents/Forms: "Please enter your full name and address in the designated fields."
Sports Commentary: "The midfielder looks to enter the box and get a shot on goal."
10 Quotes Using Enter
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." (Jesus Christ)
"There is no week nor day nor hour when tyranny may not enter upon this country, if the people lose their roughness and spirit of defiance." (Walt Whitman)
"Those who cannot understand how to put their thoughts on ice should not enter into the heat of debate." (Friedrich Nietzsche)
"If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with." (Michael Jackson)
"What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?" (E. M. Forster)
"The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind." (Khalil Gibran)
"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another." (Anatole France)
"As you enter positions of trust and power, dream a little before you think." (Toni Morrison)
"Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts." (Nelson Mandela)
"It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it." (Douglas MacArthur)
Etymology
The word "enter" has a long history, tracing its roots back to ancient languages. It essentially means "to go in" or "to come into."
The journey of "enter" into English started from Middle English as "entren." This word was borrowed from Old French, where it was "entrer." If we go even further back, the Old French word came from the Latin verb "intrare," which also meant "to go into" or "to enter." "Intrare" itself came from the Latin word "intra," meaning "within" or "inside."
So, the core idea of being inside or going into something has been present in the word's ancestors for a very long time.
The first known use of "enter" in English dates back to the Middle English period (around 1150-1500). Specifically, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) points to evidence from around 1275 in a text called "Kentish Sermons." At this early stage, its meaning was much like it is today: "to enter into a place or a situation," or "to join a group or society." Over time, the word expanded to include other meanings like recording information or assuming duties.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Enter
Enter into an agreement/contract: To formally agree to something.
Enter one's mind: For a thought or idea to occur to someone.
Enter the fray: To become involved in a conflict or argument.
Enter the scene: To appear or become active in a particular situation.
Enter a plea: To formally state whether one is guilty or not guilty in a court of law.
Enter a bid: To make an offer in an auction or tender process.
Enter into force: (Of a law or treaty) to become legally binding.
Enter a new phase: To begin a new stage or period of development.
Enter a competition/race: To participate in an organized event.
Enter someone's life: To become a part of someone's personal experience or relationships.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of enter from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
