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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.
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Examples of entrée in a Sentence
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
In addition, this location will give free entrees for a year to 100 local heroes making a difference in the Pleasanton area.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
The happy hour haven has overhauled its menu — adding dozens of items, from small bites to dinner entrees to cocktails and mocktails — in a bid to elevate the dining experience.
—The Indianapolis Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Unlock the Burrito Vault, an interactive game that asks players to guess two order combinations, for a chance to redeem a buy one, get one free entree offer.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Others Vora’s indulged in burgers, pastas and pizza, traditional Indian vegetarian cuisine and composed Western entrees.
—Shivani Vora, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
He was served entrees that are stale and tasteless, while the owner is aloof and the kitchen staff is uninterested.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2024
This colorful salad can become an entree with the addition of rotisserie chicken or whole grains.
—Zoe Denenberg, Southern Living, 16 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 2 May. 2024.
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entrée
nounfrom French entrée "act or manner of entering"
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