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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.
Examples of entrée in a Sentence
Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 15 July 2025
Members can earn points each visit and redeem them for specific items like pita chips or full entrees.
—Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 5 July 2025
Secco Restaurant & Bar: The three-course, $62 prix fixe menu features two entree choices, Seared Salmon or New York Steak & Scampi.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 4 July 2025
The entree into this is that this involves public lands of national importance.
—Peter Balonon-Rosen, Vox, 4 July 2025
That includes a family-style brunch antipasti and a second course choice from a variety of brunch-appropriate entrees, including cornmeal pancakes with bananas Foster compote, eggs Benedist with potato pave and more.
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Try the cheesy Spinach Borek or the Appetizer Platter for Four – the latter includes enough food to be considered an entree.
—Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
There was an array of various recipes, ranging from homemade ice cream to salads, cookies, candy, fudge and main entrees.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
The value meal contains a choice of select entrees, four-piece Chicken McNuggets, small fries, and a small soft drink.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Entrée.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entr%C3%A9e. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
entrée
nounfrom French entrée "act or manner of entering"
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