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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
Erin Hassanzadeh, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Qdoba Coinciding with the next full moon on April 1, Qdoba is offering its Signature 3-Cheese Queso or Queso Diablo Chips for free with a purchase of an entree to rewards members, according to a news release.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The 1931 The 1931, formerly the Orchids at Palm Court, will host an Easter brunch featuring artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, seasonal salads, carving and seafood stations, breakfast entrees, an assortment of desserts and more.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026
The menu also includes a bison rib-eye, a prime porterhouse and entrees such as lobster, sea bass, lamb chops and chicken Parmesan.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Anyone wearing cow attire — inside the restaurant or at the sure-to-be-buzzin’ drive-thru — will receive a free select entree or kid’s meal.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 31 Mar. 2026
After that, 3,600 buy-one-get-one entrees are awarded.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Certain menu items, though, feel like fan favorites made to wear cumbersome disguises, while entrees outside of the burger don’t always feel as essential as the smaller plates.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
The hardest part is deciding on an entree — everything here, from the rice or wheat dumplings to the lemony chicken tawa to the kabobs, is fabulous.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entrée.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entr%C3%A9e. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
entrée
nounfrom French entrée "act or manner of entering"
