entrance

¹ American  

[en-truhns] / ˈɛn trəns /

noun

1. an act of entering, as into a place or upon new duties.

   Synonyms:

   ingress, entry

   Antonyms:

   exit

2. a point or place of entering; an opening or passage for entering, as a doorway.

   Synonyms:

   ingress, entry

   Antonyms:

   exit

3. the right, privilege, or permission to enter; admission.

   People improperly dressed will be refused entrance to the theater.

4. Theater. the moment or place in the script at which an actor comes on the stage.

5. Music.

   1. the point in a musical score at which a particular voice or instrument joins the ensemble.

   2. the way in which this is done.

      a sloppy entrance.

6. a manner, means, or style of entering a room, group, etc.; way of coming into view.

   She mimicked Joan's entrance.

7. Nautical. the immersed portion of a hull forward of the middle body (run ).

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entrance ² American  

[en-trans] / ɛnˈtræns /

verb (used with object)

entranced, entrancing

1. to fill with delight or wonder; enrapture.

   Synonyms:

   transport, fascinate, spellbind, enthrall

2. to put into a trance.

   to be hypnotically entranced.

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entrance ¹ British  

/ ˈɛntrəns /

noun

1. the act or an instance of entering; entry

2. a place for entering, such as a door or gate

3. 1. the power, liberty, or right of entering; admission

   2. ( as modifier )

      an entrance fee

4. the coming of an actor or other performer onto a stage

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entrance ² British  

/ ɪnˈtrɑːns /

verb

1. to fill with wonder and delight; enchant

2. to put into a trance; hypnotize

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Related Words

Entrance, admittance, admission refer to the possibility of entering a place or a group. Entrance may refer to either possibility: Entrance is by way of the side door; entrance into a card game. Admittance refers more to place and suggests entrance that may be permitted or denied: to gain admittance to a building; no admittance. Admission refers more to special groups and suggests entrance by payment, by formal or special permission, privilege, and the like: admission to a concert, a game, to candidacy, the bar, to society.

Other Word Forms

• entrancement noun
• entrancing adjective

Etymology

Origin of entrance¹

First recorded in 1525–50; from Middle French; enter, -ance

Origin of entrance²

First recorded in 1585–95; en- ¹ + trance ¹

Example Sentences

These were typically female mediums who were entranced and spoke in the spirits’ voices.

From Literature

Nearly three months on, the building still carries the attack in its bones: insurers picking through debris, piles of glass heaped by the entrance, the auditorium a burnt-out shell.

From BBC

In recent weeks, Tehran has been working to better protect its main nuclear sites from another round of U.S. bombing, pouring soil and concrete over the sites’ entrances to harden their defenses.

From The Wall Street Journal

“There was a perfectly fine entrance on the other side,” she eventually said, indicating the snow tunnel behind her.

From Literature

On one end was the main gate to the castle, where the king and queen and other royal guests made their grand entrances.

From Literature

Related Words

• access
• avenue
• corridor
• door
• doorway
• entry
• entryway
• gate
• hall
• hallway
• lobby
• opening
• passageway
• porch
• port
• staircase