enter

verb

ˈen-tər How to pronounce enter (audio)
Definition of enternext
1
as in to penetrate
to go or come in or into the hikers entered the cave with considerable caution

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to join
to become a member of patriotic young men and women entering the armed services debutantes entering society

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to record
to put (someone or something) on a list new voters fill out a form and elections officials enter their names into the database

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to receive
to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to the club enters only five new members a year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enter are penetrate, pierce, and probe. While all these words mean "to make way into something," enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

entered the city in triumph

Where would penetrate be a reasonable alternative to enter?

While the synonyms penetrate and enter are close in meaning, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

the enemy penetrated the fortress

When can pierce be used instead of enter?

Although the words pierce and enter have much in common, pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

pierced the boil with a lancet

When is it sensible to use probe instead of enter?

In some situations, the words probe and enter are roughly equivalent. However, probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

probed the depths of the sea

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of enter The company also points out that a game ticket is a revocable license to enter a facility. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 June 2025 Medik8’s peptide products have become a growth engine for it in the U.S. market, which the brand entered in 2023. —Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 June 2025 Paramount, which is in the midst of trying to be acquired by Skydance Media, has entered into negotiations with Trump over a potential settlement, undermining the CBS News program in the process. —Jack Dunn, Variety, 8 June 2025 Jin’s Echo enters at No. 2 with 35,000 sold, garnering the singer his second effort to reach the top three. —Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for enter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enter
  1. penetrate
  2. join
  3. record
  4. receive
  5. access
  6. rejoin
  7. list
  8. pierce
Verb
  • Part of identifying suspicious travelers relies on noticing behaviors such as fidgeting or having a penetrating stare, which government watchdogs and some lawmakers have criticized in the past as an unreliable basis for probable cause.
    — Josh Meyer, USA Today, 6 June 2025
  • Research shows that castor oil's omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids may penetrate the hair follicle (found in the scalp) and provide nutrients that protect the hair.
    — Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 4 June 2025
Definition of penetrate
Verb
  • Miami went 10-2 in 1990 and ended the season ranked No. 3 in its final season as an independent before joining the Big East.
    — Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
  • Press freedom Prominent lawyers have joined the press freedom fight to thwart Paramount’s settlement with Trump.
    — Karim Doumar, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
Definition of join
Verb
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2025
  • Acutis' first miracle was recorded in 2020, according to CNN.
    — Michael Nied, People.com, 13 June 2025
Definition of record
Verb
  • The confident presenter who delivers polished but superficial analysis frequently receives more positive evaluation than the thoughtful introvert who offers deeper insights with less theatrical flair.
    — Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Taxpayers who do not receive an ERC refund will either receive a notice of disallowance or nothing at all.
    — Guinevere Moore, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Definition of receive
Verb
  • This really helps because a lot of hackers access sites from other areas in the world.
    — Skip Sanzeri, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • Visitors can only access the beach by boat, which takes about 30 minutes to an hour.
    — Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025
Definition of access
Verb
  • The Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter crew remained on scene overnight to continue the search, and helicopter crews rejoined the effort at first light, Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Graves told The Times.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • Ott built a strong reputation for developing young players on Atkinson’s Brooklyn Nets staff from 2018-22, then rejoined his staff for Year 1 in Cleveland.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 June 2025
Definition of rejoin
Verb
  • Teel, 23, is ranked the No. 2 prospect in the Sox organization by MLB.com, which also lists him as the No. 26 prospect in baseball.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
  • The size of the changes varies a lot from game to game, and the console still lists them as original Switch games.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
Definition of list
Verb
  • Your allies probably have LGBTQ+ coworkers, cousins or that person from their yoga class who has a labret piercing and a rainbow carabiner.
    — Anna Pulley, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
  • This mistake of not tackling law, tax and financial decisions in a unified manner results in the corporate veil being pierced, personal assets being liquidated, and even bankruptcies and liquidations.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Definition of pierce

Phrases Containing enter

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ententes
enter
enterable
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Cite this Entry

“Enter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enter. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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