enter

EN-tur/ˈɛntɚ/EN-tuh/ˈɛntə(ɹ)/

17 meanings of enter

1
go inverbintransitive
To go or come into a place, such as a room, building, area, or country.
Guests may enter once the doors open at seven.
She entered through a narrow gap in the fence.
Oppositeexit, leave
Note
Older English liked to enter into a place: the King James Bible of 1611 says "he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." By Walter Besant's The Ivory Gate (1892), strangers simply "might enter the room," with the space as a direct object.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
The King James Bible was first published in 1611. commons.wikimedia.org
The quoted wording occurs in the King James Bible, illustrating historical enter into; Jesus speaks it in John 3:5. en.wikisource.org
Walter Besant wrote The Ivory Gate, originally published in 1892. en.wikisource.org
The Ivory Gate describes strangers who might enter the room, using room as the direct object. gutenberg.org
2
embark onverbformalintransitive
To join an organization or institution, such as the army or a university, or to take up an activity, role or profession; also, to come into a new state, condition or period.
The director entered upon his role with ambitious plans.
She plans to enter the legal profession after finishing her degree.
UsageEnter a profession or one's teens directly, but take up duties with on or upon: enter upon a role.
Similarjoin, start (entry), begin
Note
In Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, the narrator "entered, that same day, on a regular occupation" of pushing Miss Havisham's chair.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Charles Dickens wrote Great Expectations. gutenberg.org
The narrator uses the exact quoted wording about beginning the regular occupation of pushing Miss Havisham in her chair. gutenberg.org
3
fill in (computer)verbtransitive
To put information into a computer, device, list, or written record, such as by typing it or writing it in a ledger.
Please enter your account number before pressing submit.
He entered the data into the spreadsheet one row at a time.
UsageOften enter something in or into a form, list or device: enter your password.
Similarinput, type, key, record, log
4
competeverbtransitive or intransitive
To take part in a competition, race, exam, exhibition, or prize draw, or to sign up oneself, another person, or a thing for one.
The marathon is open to anyone over sixteen, and more than thirty thousand runners enter each year.
The school entered three of its students' paintings in the state exhibition.
UsageEnter a race to take part in it; enter someone or something in or for a contest to sign them up.
Similarcompete, submit
Oppositewithdraw
5
join agreementverbintransitive
To become one of the parties bound by an agreement, treaty, or contract.
The firms entered into a joint agreement to share research.
Neither party wished to enter into a binding treaty so quickly.
UsageUsually enter into an agreement, contract or treaty; the treaty itself enters into force.
6
keyboard keynoununcountable
The Enter key on a computer keyboard, used to confirm a command or start a new line; also, a press of that key.
Type the command and press enter to run it.
She pressed enter twice to add a blank line.
UsageOften lowercase in instructions: press enter, hit enter.
Similarreturn
7
court recordverbtransitive
To place a plea, motion, or document formally before the court and put it on the record.
Her lawyer entered an appearance on her behalf the day after the arrest.
The clerk asked them to enter the document into the record.
Similarfile, submit, lodge, register
Oppositewithdraw
Note
Courtroom usage gives the verb a familiar set of objects: one enters a writ, an appearance, a rule or a judgment. Each is placed on the record in proper form. Entering is therefore the formal step that makes the item part of the proceedings, not simply the act of handing it in.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 1 fact
Entering an item in this legal sense means formally placing it on the court record. en.wiktionary.org

Less common meanings

8
verbdatedtransitive
To cause something to go into a place; to put it in or insert it.
Similarinsert, introduce
Oppositeremove, withdraw, extract
Note
Here the verb takes an object and makes it go in. It is the plain "go in" verb turned causative. The preposition shifts with the object: a knife is entered into wood, a boy is entered at college, a horse for a race. Entering a person or animal is admission rather than insertion, which is why insert can replace the knife but not the horse.
9
come to mindverbtransitive
To occur to someone or arise in their awareness, said of a thought or idea.
The possibility of losing simply didn't enter her thoughts.
A small doubt entered his mind as he signed the lease.
UsageMost often in the negative, with no preposition: it never entered my head; it didn't enter her mind.
Similarcross
10
verbintransitive
To take effect; to come into force, as a law, treaty, or regulation does.
The treaty will enter into force once all members ratify it.
The agreement entered into force the day after both governments signed it.
UsageA fixed phrase, enter into force, often with shall and a date in legal texts.
11
claim landverbdatedhistoricalUStransitive
To file the required details about a piece of public land with the land office, securing a right to buy it first.
Her grandfather entered a quarter section near the river in 1868.
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
Similarclaim
Note
A term of the old US land-office system, now met chiefly in historical writing. The object is the land itself, measured out. An 1887 annual report of the United States General Land Office discusses an alien's qualifications "to enter 160 acres or more of the public domain." Read it as "file a claim on."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
The United States land-office system used enter for a formal application concerning public land. archives.gov
The grammatical object can be a measured quantity of land, with enter referring to the formal claim process. archives.gov
File a claim on is an appropriate explanatory paraphrase of this land-office sense. en.wiktionary.org
12
verbobsoletetransitive
To introduce someone favorably into a group, activity, or social circle as a newcomer.
This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings, / Shall enter me with him.
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”
Note
Getting a person into someone's good graces is the obsolete idea here. Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra has it: "This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings, / Shall enter me with him." The person introduced is the object, and the preposition "with" introduces the patron.
Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
Enter has an obsolete transitive sense meaning to introduce someone favourably. en.wiktionary.org
William Shakespeare wrote Antony and Cleopatra. gutenberg.org
The quotation occurs in Antony and Cleopatra; its speaker is Dercetus. folger.edu
The person introduced is the direct object of enter, represented by me in the quotation. folger.edu
With introduces the prospective patron, Caesar, whose service Dercetus seeks to enter. gutenberg.org
13
come on stageverbintransitivetheater
To come on stage in a play; scripts print it before the name of the arriving character, and people use it playfully to announce someone or something new.
In the second act, the ghost enters from stage left as the lights dim.
The negotiations had stalled for weeks; enter a new mediator with a fresh proposal.
UsageIn scripts it comes first, with no ending: Enter the Ghost. The playful use copies this: enter a new mediator.
Similarappear
Oppositeexit
14
be a factorverbintransitive
Of a factor or consideration, to figure in something such as a decision or have a bearing on it; followed by into.
Cost will certainly enter into the board's decision on the new stadium.
Personal loyalties should never have entered into the hiring process.
UsageUsually enter into: cost entered into the decision. Set phrases drop into: enter the picture.
Similarfactor, figure
15
verb
To report a vessel or its cargo at the custom house, submitting a statement of imported goods for duty assessment.
16
verbdated
To deposit the title or description of a book, picture, or map in order to secure its copyright.
17
verb
To go onto land and take actual, physical possession of it.

Practice

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Origin

"Enter" comes from Middle English "entren," from Old French "entrer," from Latin "intrō" (to enter), which itself derives from "intrā" meaning "inside."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

Enter comes from Middle English entren. en.wiktionary.org
Middle English entren comes from Old French entrer. en.wiktionary.org
Old French entrer comes from Latin intrō, meaning to enter. en.wiktionary.org
Latin intrō derives from intrā, meaning inside. en.wiktionary.org