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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.
Synonyms
Examples of entrée in a Sentence
Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 10 May 2024
Some Arab Americans who have long had an entree to high-level Democratic politics expressed feelings of deep alienation.
—Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 10 May 2024
Its menu features pintxos, house classics and entrees as well as desserts.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 7 May 2024
Wilson’s entree into Nashville’s Lower Broadway is a welcome bit of female representation in an entertainment district dominated by bro bars.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2024
Breaking up the appetizer and entree course was an intermission of tequila shots—which has become a Markarian event signature—IYKYK.
—Lea Donenberg, Vogue, 3 May 2024
Its menu lists dozens of desserts, quick-bites and entrees.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2024
All family meal packs include four entree portions, two sides, a small table salad and four dinner rolls, with prices varying based on your entree choice.
—Alexandra Maloney, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2024
Expect menu items like tableside guacamole, salads, soups and mariscos (seafood bites) as well as such entrees as mole negro, cochinita pibil (barbecue pork) and tradition tlayudas (a large, crispy tortilla smothered in beans, meat, cheese and salsa).
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'entrée.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near entrée
Cite this Entry
“Entrée.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entr%C3%A9e. Accessed 15 May. 2024.
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entrée
nounfrom French entrée "act or manner of entering"
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