reenter

Reenter is a verb meaning to enter again, after leaving or after a prior entry. It can be used intransitively (to reenter) or transitively (to reenter something). The related noun is reentry or re-entry, referring to the act of entering again. The term is formed from the prefix re- meaning “again” and the verb enter.

Common uses include travel and immigration, where a person reenters a country after a trip; data entry, where a person reenters information into a form after an error; and process control, where credentials or steps may be reentered after a timeout or failure. In computing and software contexts, reenter appears in everyday language about user actions, while a related technical term, reentrancy, describes code that can be safely invoked again before previous invocations complete. The concepts are distinct, but both address repeating entry into a system or state.

Spelling and style vary by region and guide. Some style guides prefer the hyphenated form re-enter, while others accept the closed form reenter. For nouns, reentry or re-entry is typically used rather than reenter. In formal writing, choosing one consistent form is advised, and users should align with their publication’s style rules. The core meaning remains the same across contexts: to enter again after an earlier entry.