Climb through your window vs Enter

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Climb through your window

InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)

Enter

Top 2,000 (common)A2verb
Most formal: EnterMost common: Enter
 Climb through your windowEnter
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //klaɪm θruː jɔːr ˈwɪndəʊ//🇺🇸 //klaɪm θruː jʊr ˈwɪndoʊ//🇬🇧 /["/ˈentə(r)/","/ˈentəz/","/ˈentəd/","/ˈentərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈentər/","/ˈentərz/","/ˈentərd/","/ˈentərɪŋ/"]/
MeaningGo into a place through a window.to go into a place.
ExampleShe had to climb through your window to avoid being seen by her parents.Please enter your password to access the account.
RegisterInformalNeutral
How commonTop 5,000 (fairly common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-A2
Part of speechverb
Collocationsclimb through the window, climb through a gap, climb through bushes, climb through the fence, climb through the openingillegally, cautiously, quickly, allow somebody/​something to, permit somebody/​something to, forbid somebody to, by, through, from, enter and exit, enter and leave, manually, automatically, in, into, on
Antonyms-exit, leave
Common mistakesConfused with 'climb out of' or 'climb into'., Mistaken use of 'through' when 'in' is meant., Incorrect verb tense usage in sentences.Confusing 'enter' with 'come in'. 'Come in' is more informal., Using 'enter' incorrectly with objects, e.g., 'enter the car' instead of 'get in the car'., Misusing 'enter' when referring to starting a document or form; use 'start' instead.
Usage notesUsed informally when someone enters a space via a window. Often implies a casual or sneaky action, less appropriate for formal contexts.Use 'enter' when referring to going into a physical space like a room or building. Avoid using it in informal contexts like conversation with friends unless necessary.

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Climb through your window
Enter

Frequently asked questions: Climb through your window vs Enter

What's the difference between Climb through your window and Enter?

Climb through your window: Go into a place through a window. Enter: to go into a place.

Which is more formal: Climb through your window and Enter?

Enter is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Climb through your window and Enter?

Enter is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Climb through your window: She had to climb through your window to avoid being seen by her parents. Enter: Please enter your password to access the account.

Can I use Climb through your window and Enter interchangeably?

Not always. Climb through your window and Enter are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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