Skip to main content
to make an entrance

to make an entrance

9 4.9
To arrive somewhere in a way that draws a lot of attention
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : hacer una entrada
  • At the party, he decided to make an entrance by arriving in a fancy sports car that turned heads.
  • know how to make an entrance
  • like to make an entrance
  • want to make an entrance

Examples

  • Her mother made an entrance, sweeping in like royalty entering the grand ballroom.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Boy, you sure know how to make an entrance.

  • Does this guy know how to make an entrance or what?

  • And that is how you make an entrance.

  • I think Lady Bird wants to make an entrance.

  • Well, you know I like to make an entrance.

  • We like to make an entrance.

  • I want to make an entrance with my daughter

  • He knew how to make an entrance, and he knew how to make you laugh.

    Blog text (33)
  • Like any great dancer, Benjamin Millepied knows how to make an entrance.

    Blog text (25)

Synonyms

to show up
vsto make an entrance
1.4

To be seen or arrive at a place

is more about creating noticeable, stylish attention than mere appearance
to enter
vsto make an entrance
1.0

To go into a building, room, or area

is a showy, attention-seeking arrival rather than a plain coming
to walk in
vsto make an entrance
396 1.6

To enter a room or building by walking without knocking

contrasts by aiming to draw attention through dramatic or stylish arrival
to come on
vsto make an entrance
82 2.1

Begin to appear or become visible

focuses on arriving in a way that draws dramatic public attention
to rush in
vsto make an entrance
36 3.1

Act quickly without thinking, for example by going into a place

is a noticeable, often stylish arrival rather than a hasty entry
to burst in
vsto make an entrance
21 3.3

To enter a room suddenly and interrupt people

seeks attention through style and drama rather than sudden interruption
to make a splash
vsto make an entrance
11 3.9

Get a lot of attention in an exciting way

does this specifically by arriving noticeably and with stylish flair
to burst in on
vsto make an entrance
3 5.2

Go into a room or conversation suddenly and interrupt people

aims to attract notice through a planned, stylish arrival rather than interruption
to step into the spotlight
vsto make an entrance
  • Informal
1 5.1

Become the main focus of people's attention after doing something important

achieves attention by a striking arrival rather than slow fame building
to enter the scene
vsto make an entrance
1 3.8

To come into a situation and begin to take part or change it

is instead about arriving in a way that attracts immediate attention
to show out
vsto make an entrance
  • Informal
7.4

Act in a loud way to get attention and impress people

arrives to attract notice through a dramatic or stylish appearance

Antonyms

to sneak in
  • Informal
75 3.8

To go into a place quietly so no one notices

1 6.3

To go unnoticed by people or officials

How Dramatic

to steal the show
  • Informal
14 3.7
to make an entrance
9 4.9
to arrive
1.0
to sneak in
  • Informal
75 3.8

Surface Forms

make an entrance infinitive
making an entrance present participle
makes an entrance third person singular
made an entrance past participle

Morphology

make + an + entrance

The phrase is largely compositional: a learner who knows 'make' and 'entrance' can infer it involves causing or performing an entry/arrival. However, the specific pragmatic nuance — arriving in a noticeable, dramatic, or attention-getting way — is an extra idiomatic/colloquial layer that is not fully predictable from the constituents, so comprehension may be partial without prior exposure.

Etymology

Make an entrance comes from the stage. Actors would make an entrance by stepping through the curtain with a big step or surprise to get the audience's attention. So it means 'to arrive in a way that is noticeable'.