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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
Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 3 Jan. 2025
Swift and Kelce’s menu Our waiter, Juan, was attentive, from the drink service to the entrees.
—Yvette Walker, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2025
Influenced by the dishes of the various countries, Cafe Athena offers a wide array of menu choices, including entrees, sandwiches, pizza, soups, salads, grape leaves, pita wraps, spreads, appetizers, sides, desserts and a kids menu.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2025
Guests can also upgrade to a steak entree for an additional $20.
—Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 26 Dec. 2024
Bob Evans also offers Holiday Hot Family Meals to go, with entrees, sides and dessert for carryout, curbside pickup or delivery.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 23 Dec. 2024
The menus feature appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 18 Dec. 2024
The catering menu includes fresh salads, signature pastas, such as lasagna or Pasta Brio, and specialty entrees such as chicken Milanese and grilled salmon.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 13 Dec. 2024
Holiday packages come with a starter, a pasta, two entrees and a dessert.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 13 Dec. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near entrée
Cite this Entry
“Entrée.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entr%C3%A9e. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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entrée
nounfrom French entrée "act or manner of entering"
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