entertain

verb

en·​ter·​tain ˌen-tər-ˈtān How to pronounce entertain (audio)
entertained; entertaining; entertains

transitive verb

1
: to show hospitality to
entertain guests
2
: to provide entertainment for
3
a
: to keep, hold, or maintain in the mind
I entertain grave doubts about her sincerity.
b
: to receive and take into consideration
refused to entertain our plea
4
: to play against (an opposing team) on one's home field or court
5
a
archaic : maintain
b
obsolete : receive

intransitive verb

: to provide entertainment especially for guests
entertainer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for entertain

amuse, divert, entertain mean to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly.

amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly.

amuse yourselves while I make dinner

divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny.

a light comedy to divert the tired businessman

entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods.

a magician entertaining children at a party

Examples of entertain in a Sentence

They like to entertain their friends at their summer home. Much of his job as a salesman involves entertaining clients. Jugglers were on hand to entertain the crowd. Our father entertained us with stories. Our father's stories entertained us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 2022 move to its current home, near South Coast Plaza, was widely viewed as a chance to raise the museum’s reputation and solidify its role as a place to be entertained and challenged by art. Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025 Bochy, who won three World Series with the Giants from 2010-2014, could entertain reuniting with Buster Posey, the Giants’ president of baseball operations. Katie Woo, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025 And then there is Sunnei, the smaller, independent unisex label by Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo, which never fails to entertain guests with its tongue-in-cheek show formats. Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025 In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly about reuniting with Home Improvement costar Tim Allen, 72, on Shifting Gears, Dunning recalled overhearing Allen entertaining the idea of bringing Pamela Anderson back to the series in some capacity. Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for entertain

Word History

Etymology

Middle English entertinen, from Middle French entretenir, from entre- inter- + tenir to hold — more at tenable

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5a

Time Traveler
The first known use of entertain was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Entertain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entertain. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

entertain

verb
en·​ter·​tain ˌent-ər-ˈtān How to pronounce entertain (audio)
1
: to receive and provide for as host : have as a guest
entertain friends over the weekend
2
a
: to provide entertainment
b
: to be a source of entertainment for
entertained us with stories
3
: to have in mind : consider
entertained thoughts of quitting
entertainer
ˌen-tər-ˈtā-nər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on entertain

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!