English Reference

Word

entrance

Phoneticsen·trance, stress on the first syllable

/ˈɛntɹəns/

Definitions

01a door or gate

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a door, gate, or opening where you can go into a place.

n. a physical point of entry, such as a doorway, portal, or gate.

“The main entrance to the museum is currently closed for repairs.”

“The architect designed a grand entrance featuring marble columns and a vaulted ceiling to impress visitors as they arrived.”

Synonyms

entrywayaccess pointgate

Antonyms

02the act of coming in

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the act of coming into a room or onto a stage.

n. the action of entering a space or appearing before an audience.

“The bride made a beautiful entrance as the music started to play.”

“The actor timed his entrance perfectly, stepping onto the stage just as the spotlight shifted to the centre aisle.”

Antonyms

03permission to enter

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the right or permission to go into a place or join a group.

n. the right, permission, or power to enter an institution, building, or social circle.

“You need a special pass to gain entrance to the private club.”

“Gaining entrance to the elite university required not only high test scores but also a portfolio of community service.”

Antonyms

04music

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical

n. the moment when a musician or singer starts to play or sing.

n. the specific point in a musical score where a performer or instrument begins to play.

“The flute player missed her entrance because she turned two pages at once.”

“The conductor gave a sharp cue to the brass section to ensure a clean entrance during the fortissimo passage.”

Synonyms

05to delight or charm

C1 · Advanced Literary

v. to fill someone with wonder and delight so they give you all their attention.

v. to fill someone with delight and wonder; to captivate or cast a spell over an audience.

“The children were entranced by the magician's clever tricks.”

“The audience sat in silence, completely entranced by the soprano's hauntingly beautiful performance.”

Usage

This verb is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable.

Teaching tip

Learners often confuse this with the noun; remind them that the verb 'entrance' rhymes with 'dance' and has a different stress pattern.

Synonyms

enchantcaptivatespellbind

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “entrance” in context.

Verb

01. bar entrance

“Security guards were instructed to bar entrance to anyone without a pass.”

verb + noun

02. block entrance

“A large delivery truck was blocking the entrance to the driveway.”

verb + noun

03. entrance lead to

“The narrow entrance leads to a beautiful hidden courtyard.”

noun + verb + prep

04. gain entrance

“The burglars managed to gain entrance through a broken window.”

verb + noun

05. guard entrance

“Two soldiers were posted to guard the entrance to the palace.”

verb + noun

Adjective

06. dramatic entrance

“He waited for the music to start before making his dramatic entrance.”

adj + noun

07. grand entrance

“The actress made a grand entrance in a stunning red gown.”

adj + noun

08. main entrance

“Please meet me at the main entrance of the museum at noon.”

adj + noun

Noun

09. entrance exam

“She is studying hard for her university entrance exam next month.”

noun + noun

10. entrance fee

“The entrance fee for the gallery is ten pounds for adults.”

noun + noun

11. at the entrance to

“We stood at the entrance to the cave, hesitant to go inside.”

12. make a grand entrance

“She loves to make a grand entrance to ensure everyone notices her arrival.”

Real-World Examples

“The entrance that once gleamed in neon lights is now covered in plywood and torn green tarp, giving cover to people who sleep there or inject drugs.”
The New York Times 10 May 2026
“China is employing ships and a barrier to tighten control of the entrance to the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea amid roiling tension with the Philippines over the disputed feature, satellite imagery obtained by Reuters shows.”
Reuters 16 Apr 2026
“Entrances to Iran's underground and previously bombed uranium-enrichment plant at Natanz have been struck as part of the U.S.-Israeli military attacks on the country, the U.N. nuclear watchdog confirmed on Tuesday.”
Reuters 3 Mar 2026
“When the Sainsbury Wing opened, it was called ‘vulgar pastiche’. Now, after an £85m revamp, it has become the famous gallery’s main entrance.”
The Guardian 6 May 2025

Etymology

From Middle French entrance (“entry”). Replaced native Middle English ingang (“entrance, admission”), from Old English ingang (“ingress, entry, entrance”).

From en- + trance (“daze”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Related words

Domains

MusicNautical

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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