en ‧ ter S2 W1 /ˈentə $ -ər/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ entrance , ↑ entrant , ↑ entry ; verb : ↑ enter ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: entrer , from Latin intrare , from intra 'inside' ]
1 . GO INTO
a) [intransitive and transitive] to go or come into a place:
Silence fell as I entered the room.
Few reporters dared to enter the war zone.
b) [transitive] if an object enters part of something, it goes inside it:
The bullet had entered his brain.
2 . START WORKING [intransitive and transitive] to start working in a particular profession or organization, or to start studying at a school or university:
Both the boys entered the army.
She entered politics in 1996.
He entered the Church (=became a priest) as a young man.
3 . START AN ACTIVITY [transitive] to start to take part in an activity, or become involved in a situation:
He entered the election as the clear favourite.
The rebels were prepared to enter negotiations (=start discussing something) .
4 . COMPUTER
a) [transitive] to put information into a computer by pressing the keys:
Press the return key to enter the information.
enter something into something
The names are entered into a database.
b) [intransitive and transitive] if you enter a computer system, you are given permission to use it by the computer:
It won’t let you enter without a password.
5 . WRITE INFORMATION [transitive] to write information on a particular part of a form, document etc:
Don’t forget to enter your postcode.
enter in/into
Enter your name in the space provided.
6 . COMPETITION/EXAMINATION [intransitive and transitive] to arrange to take part in a race, competition, examination etc, or to arrange for someone else to take part:
At least 30 schools entered the competition.
enter for
Decisions about when he or she is entered for an examination should be taken very carefully.
7 . PERIOD OF TIME [transitive] to begin a period of time when something happens:
The economy has entered a period of recession.
enter its third week/sixth day/second year etc
The talks have now entered their third week.
8 . START TO EXIST [transitive] if a new idea, thought etc enters your head, or a new quality enters something, it suddenly starts to exist there:
A note of panic entered her voice.
it never entered sb’s head/mind (=used to say that someone never considered a particular idea, especially when this is surprising)
It never entered his head that she might be seeing someone else.
9 . enter sb’s life if someone or something enters your life, you start to know them or be affected by them:
By the time Angie entered his life, he was almost 30.
10 . OFFICIAL STATEMENT [transitive] formal to make an official statement:
Wilson entered a plea of not guilty (=said that he was not guilty at the beginning of a court case) .
Residents entered a number of objections to the scheme.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ enter to go or come into a place. Enter is more formal than go in :
It appears the burglars entered the house through a back window.
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Occupying troops entered the town on 8th April.
▪ go in/into something to enter a place. Go in/into is the usual phrase to use in everyday English:
It was getting cold so we went in.
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He went into the cafe and ordered a drink.
▪ come in/into something to enter a place – used when you are already in that place:
Come in and sit down.
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When you come into the village, you’ll see the church on your right.
▪ get in/into something to succeed in entering a place, especially when it is difficult or it takes a long time:
I’d lost my key so I couldn’t get in.
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You can’t get into the club if you are under 18.
▪ break in/into something to enter a building using force, for example in order to steal something:
If anyone tries to break in, the alarm will go off.
▪ burst in/into something to enter a room or building very suddenly and noisily:
Two men with guns burst in and told us to lie on the floor.
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He burst into my office laughing and screaming like a maniac.
▪ barge in/into something to suddenly enter a room where you are not wanted because you are interrupting someone or you were not invited:
She just barged into my room without knocking.
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You can’t just go barging in.
▪ sneak in/into something to enter a place quietly and secretly hoping that no one will notice you:
If you’re late, just try and sneak into the back of the class.
▪ slip in/into something to enter a place quietly and quickly:
Maggie opened the door silently and slipped in.
▪ trespass formal to enter an area of land that belongs to someone else without permission:
The sign said ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’.
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Trespassing on the railway is a criminal offence in the UK.
enter into something phrasal verb
1 . enter into an agreement/contract etc to make an official agreement to do something
enter into an agreement/contract etc with
Some local authorities have entered into partnership with private companies.
2 . to start discussing or dealing with something:
It could be a problem, but we don’t need to enter into that just yet.
enter into discussions/negotiations (with somebody)
The government refused to enter into discussions with the opposition.
3 . [usually in negatives] to affect a situation and be something that you consider when you make a choice:
He always buys the best – money doesn’t enter into it.
4 . enter into the spirit of it/things to take part in a game, party etc in an eager way
enter upon something phrasal verb formal
to start doing something or being involved in it:
countries newly entering upon industrialization