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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Entrench Definition, Examples & Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：ingrain deeply (entrench)

entrench 🔊

/ɪnˈtrentʃ/

vt.

To make an idea, attitude, or habit become very strong and difficult to change.

Entrench meaning deeply ingrained idea with brain roots illustration

ingrain deeply 🔊

➕

/ɪnˈɡreɪn ˈdiːpli/

vt.

To make an idea, attitude, or habit so firmly established that it becomes very difficult to change or remove.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From en- 'in' + trench 'a ditch'; originally meant 'put into a trench'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine an idea buried in a deep trench, making it very hard to dig out.

📖 Example

The politician's promises entrenched the belief among voters that he was the right person for the job. 🔊 The politician's promises firmly established the belief among voters that he was the right person for the job.

🔗 Collocations

entrench a belief – To make a belief deeply rooted and hard to change

entrench a habit – To make a habit very fixed and resistant to alteration

entrench a system – To establish a system in a way that makes it difficult to reform

🔄 Synonyms

ingrain (vt.) – To firmly fix an idea or habit in someone's mind

instill (vt.) – To gradually introduce an idea or feeling so that it becomes part of someone's character

root (vt.) – To establish something deeply and firmly

🚫 Antonyms

uproot (vt.) – To remove something completely from its established position

eradicate (vt.) – To eliminate something entirely, leaving no trace

remove (vt.) – To take away or eliminate something from its place

🌱 Derivatives

entrenched (adj.) – Firmly established and difficult to change

entrenchment (n.) – The state of being firmly established or the act of entrenching

📖 Cultural Story

Originally from military strategy, referring to digging trenches for defense. By the 18th century, it acquired the figurative sense of firmly establishing an idea.

Meaning 2：dig a trench (entrench)

entrench 🔊

/ɪnˈtrentʃ/

vt.

To dig a defensive trench or to protect yourself firmly, especially to make your position strong in a competition.

dig a trench 🔊

➕

/dɪɡ ə trentʃ/

vt.

To dig a defensive trench or to protect oneself firmly, especially to strengthen a position in a competitive situation.

📁 Category：Warfare & Battle 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

In the historical reenactment, the soldiers had to quickly entrench their position on the hill to defend against the coming attack. 🔊 In the historical reenactment, the soldiers had to quickly dig a trench on the hill to defend against the coming attack.

🔗 Collocations

entrench a position – To strengthen a position by digging defensive trenches

entrench troops – To order soldiers to dig trenches for defense

entrench oneself – To establish oneself firmly in a place, often defensively

🔄 Synonyms

fortify (vt.) – To strengthen a place against attack by building defensive works

dig in (phrasal verb) – To prepare defensive positions by digging trenches or holes

barricade (vt.) – To block or defend an area with obstacles

🚫 Antonyms

expose (vt.) – To leave something unprotected or vulnerable to attack

abandon (vt.) – To leave a position or area, giving up defense

retreat (vi.) – To withdraw from a position of defense

🌱 Derivatives

entrenched (adj.) – Firmly established and difficult to change (can also refer to a physical position)

entrenchment (n.) – The act of digging trenches or the state of being protected by trenches