entered

Entered is the past tense and past participle of the verb enter. It is a regular verb in modern English, forming the past tense with the suffix -ed: enter, entered, entering. The past participle entered is used in perfect tenses and passive constructions (The data have been entered; The room was entered).

As a transitive verb, enter means to go into or come in to a place, to place something into a space, or to begin participation in a process (enter a competition, enter a lease). In legal and formal contexts, enter is used in phrases such as enter into, enter into force, or enter into an agreement, meaning to begin a binding relationship or to become effective.

Etymology: entered derives from Old French entrer, from Latin intrare, with development through Middle English. The word has maintained its basic sense of movement into or inclusion since its formation.

Usage notes: In everyday speech, entered is common for both physical movement and data handling (The user entered the password). When referring to records, data, or information, entered often appears with a preposition such as into or in (data were entered into the database). The related noun entry refers to the act of entering or to an item that has been recorded, not to a past-tense form.

See also: enter, entry, entering, entry into force, entered into contract.

Examples: She entered the room quietly. The form was completed and the data were entered into the database. The treaty was entered into force on January 1.