entrée

noun

en·​trée ˈän-ˌtrā 

 also  än-ˈtrā

variants or entree

1

a

: the act or manner of entering : entrance

b

: freedom of entry or access

2

: the main course of a meal in the U.S.

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

• access
• accession
• admission
• admittance
• door
• doorway
• entrance
• entry
• gateway
• ingress
• key
• passport
• ticket

Examples of entrée in a Sentence

We had steak as an entrée.

entrée to the country club is through sponsorship by someone who is already a member

Recent Examples on the Web

Women get a free bottle of bubbly with purchase of an entree. —Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2024

This includes: 20 entrees that include eight seafood dishes. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2024

There’s Class Inside That Glass of Tang A scholar examines kitschy American foods as an entree into a conversation about class in the United States. —JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024

Bell, husband Tim and daughter Sadie planned to dine in Thursday evening and also get a takeout order of the Toscana entree for her mother, Dorothy Kornder. —Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 20 June 2024

Select Joe Vicari Restaurant Group locations have a free entree offer. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 14 June 2024

Here's where to score deals on egg rolls today: Sullivan's Steakhouse Sullivan's is offering all VIP Rewards members a free egg roll appetizer with the purchase of an entree on June 10. —Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 10 June 2024

New entrees include shawarma, swordfish, griot (crispy pork shoulder) with pikliz and chicken cordon bleu. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 6 June 2024

Expect egg rolls, noodle entrees, soups and salads, and in the future, sushi. —Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 5 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

French entrée, from Old French — more at entry

First Known Use

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

entrée

noun

en·​trée

variants or entree

ˈän-ˌtrā 

1

: the main dish of a meal

2

a

: entrance entry 1 sense 1

b

: freedom of entry

Etymology

from French entrée "act or manner of entering"