rentrer

Senses

1. 1.

   to go back in, to come back in

   to enter again or return to a place (home, office, school, etc.)

2. 2.

   to go home

   to return home, especially after work or school

3. 3.

   to come in

   to enter indoors; to go inside

4. 4.

   to contain, to fit in

   to be able to fit inside something (with indirect object 'dans')

Examples

• "Je rentre à la maison vers 18h."

  I go home around 6 p.m.

• "Les enfants rentrent de l'école à 16h30."

  The children come back from school at 4:30 p.m.

• "Rentre! Il pleut dehors."

  Come inside! It's raining outside.

Usage

Rentrer is a common, everyday verb used especially in spoken French. It conjugates with the auxiliary *être* in compound tenses (je suis rentré). When used with *avoir* (in older usage or with a direct object), it can mean "to bring in" (rentrer la voiture = to put the car away). Do not confuse with *entrer* (simply to enter).