enter

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enter^¹

/ˈɛntə(ɹ)/ UK
/ˈɛntɚ/ US
[ˈɛntʰɚ] US
/ˈɛntɚ/
[ˈɛɾ̃ɚ]
[ˈɪɾ̃ɚ]
/ˈɛntɚ/ Canada
/ˈentə(ɹ)/ Australia, New Zealand

Sounds like inner (pin–pen merger, nt-flapping) · Rhymes with -ɛntə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

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.

verb enters · entering · entered · enter

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.
transitive To cause to go (into), or to be received (into); to put in; to insert; to cause to be admitted. 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.
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.
intransitive, of an actor Used as a stage direction, usually preceding the name of the character who appears.
figuratively, intransitive, of an actor 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.
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.
intransitive To become effective; to come into effect. This Act shall enter into force on 01 March 1998.
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.
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.
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.

Similar: go in, ingo, come in · Opposite: exit

noun enters · entre

The action of entering; an instance of entering.
alternative Alternative spelling of Enter (“the computer key”).
alternative Alternative spelling of Enter (“a stroke of the computer key”).

Enter^²

noun Enters · enter

The "Enter" key on a computer keyboard.
A stroke of the Enter key.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: get into, come in, go into, participate, introduce, recruit, insert, enroll, go in, get in, put down, inscribe, figure, record, infix, enrol

verb

Similar: go in, ingo, come in · Opposite: exit

Translations

Every language

verb to insert

Español	entrar, ingresar, adentrar
हिन्दी	डालना ḍālnā, घुसाना ghusānā
العربية	أَدْخَلَ ʔadḵala

verb to type into a computer

Español	ingresar
日本語	入力する nyūryoku suru
中文	輸入 /输入 shūrù
Português	introduzir, inserir
Français	taper, saisir
Deutsch	eingeben
Italiano	immettere, digitare
Ελληνικά	εγγράφω engráfo
Română	introduce
Русский	вводи́ть vvodítʹ, ввести́ vvestí
العربية	أَدْخَلَ ʔadḵala

verb to record

Español	contabilizar
हिन्दी	अंकन aṅkan
Deutsch	eingeben
Русский	впи́сывать vpísyvatʹ, вписа́ть vpisátʹ

verb to go into (a room, etc.)

Español	entrar, ingresar, adentrarse
한국어	들어가다 deureogada, 들어오다 deureooda, 들다 deulda
日本語	入る hairu
中文	進入 /进入 jìnrù, 進 /进 jìn
हिन्दी	प्रवेश करना praveś karnā, भीतर जाना bhītar jānā
Kiswahili	kuingia
Português	entrar
Français	entrer
Deutsch	reingehen, hineingehen, hereingehen, eintreten, betreten, reinkommen
Italiano	entrare
Ελληνικά	μπαίνω baíno
Română	a intra
Русский	входи́ть vxodítʹ, войти́ vojtí, заходи́ть zaxodítʹ, зайти́ zajtí, въезжа́ть vʺjezžátʹ, въе́хать vʺjéxatʹ
Tiếng Việt	đi vào, vô, vào
العربية	دَخَلَ daḵala
עברית	נִכְנַס nikhnás

noun key

Español	intro
中文	回車鍵 /回车键 huíchējiàn
Deutsch	Eingabetaste
Română	tasta Enter f.
Русский	ввод vvod

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Cite this

MLA

"enter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/enter. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

APA

enter. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/enter

Chicago

"enter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 5, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/enter.

BibTeX

@misc{enter_2026,
  title = {enter},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/enter},
  urldate = {2026-11-05}
}