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 (opposed to 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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Synonym Usage

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; see enter, -ance

Origin of entrance²

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

Explanation

As a noun, entrance means an act of entering or something that provides a way to enter something. You can make a grand entrance when you arrive at a party, as long as you can actually find the entrance. Entrance has two pronunciations. If you put the accent on the first syllable, the word is a noun meaning the act of entering or the way into something ("an entrance to the building"). If the accent is on the second syllable, then entrance is a verb meaning "to enchant, charm, or enamor" — "You will be entranced by the movie; the scenery looks so real you will swear it is growing in the theater."

Example Sentences

At another entrance, reporters clustered around New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in Congress.

From Slate • May 29, 2026

"Ebola really kills," a poster at the entrance warns.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

Today's visitors to Battersea Park Children's Zoo use the same entrance as they did in 1951, only without the bright lights and go karts.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

A police cordon is in place at the Airport Road entrance to the harbour estate.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

“There’s rumored to be an entrance nearby to the last level of Asamando—the Eloko Forests. The Eloko corrupts everything it’s near. Weather. Plants. Friendships. It’s this corruption that affects the sands around here.”

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

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