entrance
1 Americannoun
-
entrances
plural
-
an act of entering, as into a place or upon new duties.
- Antonyms:
- exit
-
a point or place of entering; an opening or passage for entering, as a doorway.
- Antonyms:
- exit
-
the right, privilege, or permission to enter; admission.
People improperly dressed will be refused entrance to the theater.
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Theater. the moment or place in the script at which an actor comes on the stage.
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Music.
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the point in a musical score at which a particular voice or instrument joins the ensemble.
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the way in which this is done.
a sloppy entrance.
-
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a manner, means, or style of entering a room, group, etc.; way of coming into view.
She mimicked Joan's entrance.
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Nautical. the immersed portion of a hull forward of the middle body (opposed to run).
noun
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the act or an instance of entering; entry
-
a place for entering, such as a door or gate
-
-
the power, liberty, or right of entering; admission
-
( as modifier )
an entrance fee
-
-
the coming of an actor or other performer onto a stage
verb
-
to fill with wonder and delight; enchant
-
to put into a trance; hypnotize
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
entrancesimple
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entrancessimple
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have entrancedperfect
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has entrancedperfect
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am entrancingprogressive
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are entrancingprogressive
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is entrancingprogressive
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have been entrancingperfect progressive
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has been entrancingperfect progressive
Past
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entrancedsimple
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had entrancedperfect
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was entrancingprogressive
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were entrancingprogressive
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had been entrancingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of entrance1
First recorded in 1525–50; from Middle French; see enter, -ance
Origin of entrance2
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."
Vocabulary lists containing entrance
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myPerspectives 9.2
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Gene Wilder (1933-2016) Tribute List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Pei’s main entrance, a sculptural glass pyramid, whose construction is amply documented in “Louvre Photo.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Police had parked patrol cars and mobile vans as well as set up two tents near the entrance to the road, in preparation for crowd control.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
The entrance of the dingy space includes a display of “Faces of South Texas,” which includes Selena, Nolan Ryan, Tom Landry, and some war heroes.
From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026
“Let’s take a moment,” she said, stopping at the entrance to the Ferndell Nature Trail in Griffith Park.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Whatever had been dragged across the entrance didn’t seem to be a perfect fit.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Colourful patterns known as rangoli are created at entrances to homes, while markets bustle with shoppers buying festive essentials beneath brightly lit decorations.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
The plan is to give the museum two much-needed new entrances and exits on the complex’s eastern side, and to create a whole new subterranean area reserved for its most famous artwork, the Mona Lisa.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
The increasingly extreme merchandise taking over suburban lawns and big-box store entrances is starting to spook some consumers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
One video shows McHenry later speaking with a security worker near one of the venue’s entrances.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Various tunnels with neon signs at their entrances veer off in different directions.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
When, in 2000, Mr. Lloyd heard Hussain—the son of Alla Rakha, whose music had entranced him nearly a half-century earlier—new doors of possibility opened.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
"I'm entranced by Mr Haaland," said Miami resident Robert, speaking to BBC Mundo.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
The production is most effective when the actors are singing, especially Grace Yoo, who plays Mei-Li and had me entranced the moment she started singing “A Hundred Million Miracles.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
That becomes a problem when, after one of their weekly lunches, the three friends stroll around a furniture store, where Camille is entranced by a gorgeous chair she can’t possibly afford.
From Salon ● Feb. 18, 2026
Fists pounded at the door, but we had become lost, entranced by what we had done.
From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat
As the star of Misty Green, Eleazar is an absolute mess, but an entrancing one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Brazil now need major surgery - starting with the area of the field where they used to be so strong, so creative, so entrancing - the midfield.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
Her fiery, entrancing performance blazes across the screen and is a breakout film role for the acclaimed stage actor.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026
Zimmer, a New York City comedian, is tasked with a heavy, grief-laden dramatic role, and she’s utterly convincing, entrancing in her stillness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026
He reads and rereads the words of Herr Friedrick Thiessen, finding them both familiar and entrancing.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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