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 Things like a simple play mat or a mirror can make tummy time entertaining. Maya Polton, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024 Starry performances Rihanna was not the only musician who entertained guests over the weekend. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 One of the most successful male singing groups, New Edition has entertained audiences for more than 40 years. Diego Ramos Bechara, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Megan Moroney entertained guests in a Girls Night Out event on Feb. 28 at the Graduate Hotel’s White Limozeen. Tom Roland, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 An art studio, an adventure center, a kids’ club, and a spectacular spa offering holistic treatments based on local healing practices will ensure guests of all ages stay busy and entertained on site. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 To entertain viewers, though, ESPN needed its anchors to be entertaining — a tricky proposition for a network that was billing itself as the Worldwide Leader in Sports and was therefore a place where personalities had to remain subservient to the bigger brand. Jonathan Mahler, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Maybe that line was also a way for the 65-year-old to summarize a life and career marked by resilience and a determination to entertain, engage, push boundaries, make art. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 Large enough to host a wedding but quaint enough to entertain your most treasured guests. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'entertain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near entertain

Cite this Entry

“Entertain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entertain. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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

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