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The culinary sense of entrée can be traced back to 18th-century Britain. In those days a formal dinner could include not only the principal courses of soup, fish, meat, and dessert, but also an impressive array of side dishes. Between the fish and meat courses would come a small side dish, and because this secondary dish came immediately before the centerpiece of the meal, it was called the entrée, being, in effect, the entrance to the really important part of the meal. As dining habits have changed, meals have become simpler, and fewer courses are served. However, in the US, the course following the appetizer continued to be called the entrée, perhaps because it is a French word, and anything French always sounds elegant.
Examples of entrée in a Sentence
Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2026
Pair them with a rich and decadent entree like our classic risotto, creamy polenta, or fettuccini Alfredo.
—Martha Stewart, 25 May 2026
Funga Farm's crops, meanwhile, end up in some of Copenhagen's best restaurants, including ARK, a famous vegan restaurant that grills and serves Cometta's oyster mushrooms as a tasty entree.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
The combination of crunchy romaine lettuce, sweet tomatoes, bitter red onion, and briny pepperoncini is the perfect balance to a cozy, cheesy entree.
—Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 May 2026
Grilled entrees are also exceptional, especially the branzino, which is served with escarole, cannellini beans, and a lemony, garlicky salmoriglio sauce.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 May 2026
Other entrees include salmon fillets, white Georgia shrimp, baked rosemary chicken and General Tso’s chicken.
—Kate Williams, AJC.com, 22 May 2026
Benihana From Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25, Benihana will offer a complimentary entree to Gold Star families, veterans, active duty military and first responders as a thank-you for their service.
—ABC News, 20 May 2026
If breakfast for dinner is your favorite, head to Iron Rooster for breakfast options all day, as well as Lowcountry entrees and fresh seafood.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entrée.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entr%C3%A9e. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
entrée
nounfrom French entrée "act or manner of entering"
