eintreten
to enter
To enter a room, building, or area.
EXAMPLE
Als er ins Zimmer eintrat, wurden alle still.
When he entered the room, everyone fell silent.
eintreten
to enter / occur
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Meanings
eintreten
to occur
To happen, occur, or take effect. Often refers to events, states, or consequences.
EXAMPLE
Der Tod trat nach kurzer, schwerer Krankheit ein.
Death occurred after a short, serious illness.
in etwas eintreten
to join
To become a member of an organization, club, or political party.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist vor zwei Jahren in die Gewerkschaft eingetreten.
She joined the union two years ago.
für etwas eintreten
to advocate for
To stand up for and support a person, an idea, or a goal.
EXAMPLE
Die Organisation tritt für den Schutz der Umwelt ein.
The organization advocates for the protection of the environment.
etwas eintreten
to kick in
To force open or destroy something, usually a door, with a powerful kick.
EXAMPLE
Da niemand öffnete, musste die Feuerwehr die Tür eintreten.
Since no one opened the door, the fire department had to kick it in.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Eintreten' (to enter / occur) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'ein' goes at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Bitte treten Sie ein!
Please come in!
Auxiliary verb in the perfect tense
The perfect tense of 'eintreten' (to enter / occur) is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be), because it describes movement or a change of state. So the form is 'ist eingetreten' (has entered / has occurred).
EXAMPLE
Eine unerwartete Besserung ist eingetreten.
An unexpected improvement has occurred.
Word structure
The verb is made up of 'ein-' (in, into) and 'treten' (to step). The literal meaning 'hinein-treten' (to step inside) helps you understand the meanings 'to enter a room' and 'to become a member'.
EXAMPLE
Der Gast trat aus der Kälte in das warme Haus ein.
The guest stepped out of the cold and into the warm house.
Fixed preposition
To express that someone becomes a member, you use the construction 'in etwas (Akkusativ) eintreten' (to join something). Typical nouns are 'Verein' (club), 'Partei' (party), or 'Organisation' (organization).
EXAMPLE
Letztes Jahr ist er in einen Sportverein eingetreten.
Last year he joined a sports club.
Fixed preposition
When someone stands up for something, the fixed phrase is 'für etwas (Akkusativ) eintreten' (to advocate for something). You can advocate for an idea, a right, or a person.
EXAMPLE
Die Anwältin ist für die Rechte ihrer Mandantin eingetreten.
The lawyer advocated for her client's rights.
Use without an object
In the meaning 'geschehen' (to happen) or 'passieren' (to occur), 'eintreten' (to occur) is used without an object. It often describes the beginning of a new state or event and is frequently used in formal language.
EXAMPLE
Die Dunkelheit trat langsam ein.
Darkness slowly set in.
Use with an accusative object
In the meaning 'etwas mit dem Fuß aufstoßen' (to kick something open), 'eintreten' (to kick in) is used with a direct accusative object and without a preposition. Most often, the object is a door.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei musste die Wohnungstür eintreten.
The police had to kick in the apartment door.
Compare with
eintreten vs einstellen
to hire / adjust / stop
Both verbs can express the onset of a state or result. Sich einstellen tends to emphasize that the state develops gradually, while eintreten emphasizes that it actually occurs or takes effect. Sich einstellen is often suitable for a slowly developing effect, while eintreten is often used for an expected result.
eintreten
Nach der Behandlung trat bei ihr die erwartete Besserung ein.
After the treatment, the expected improvement occurred.
einstellen
Nach einigen Tagen stellte sich bei ihr langsam eine Besserung ein.
After a few days, she slowly began to feel better.
In real life
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