entrain

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"entrain" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“entrain” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To draw (something) along as a current does.

Key facts for entrain
PropertyValue
Headwordentrain
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “entrain” sits in English frequency

entrain falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for entrain is 7 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

entrain doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French entrainer (modern French entraîner /entrainer), from en- + trainer (“to pull, drag”). The correct English form is entrain, spelled E-N-T-R-A-I-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    To draw (something) along as a current does.
  2. 2
    To suspend (small particles) in the current of a fluid.
  3. 3
    To set up or propagate (a signal), such as an oscillation.
  4. 4
    To conjoin, to link; as in a series of entities, elements, objects or processes.
  5. 5
    To become trained or conditioned in (a pattern of brain behavior).
  6. 6
    To draw, induce, or bring about.

Etymology

From Middle French entrainer (modern French entraîner /entrainer), from en- + trainer (“to pull, drag”).

This word in other languages

trajinar(Español)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "entrain"?
"entrain" is spelled E-N-T-R-A-I-N.
What does "entrain" mean?
As a verb, "entrain" means: To draw (something) along as a current does.
What is the origin of the word "entrain"?
From Middle French entrainer (modern French entraîner /entrainer), from en- + trainer (“to pull, drag”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “entrain”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-N-T-R-A-I-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list