entertain

verb en·ter·tain \ ˌen-tər-ˈtān \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: entertain in a Sentence

Definition of entertain

entertained; entertaining; entertains

transitive verb

1 a archaic : maintain

b obsolete : receive

2 : to show hospitality to

entertain guests

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 provide entertainment for

5 : to play against (an opposing team) on one's home field or court

intransitive verb

: to provide entertainment especially for guests

—

entertainer

noun

See entertain defined for English-language learners

See entertain defined for kids

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 of entertain from the Web

It’s family-friendly, with jugglers and puppeteers to entertain the little ones.

— bethany ao, Philly.com, "Philadelphia's summer festivals from Wawa Welcome America and Odunde to the Philadelphia Folk Festival," 6 June 2018
McBeth's two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit allows her to entertain guests or treat her additional room as a home office.

— john-john williams iv, Howard County Times, "Luxury apartments proliferate across Howard County," 5 June 2018
Francois Pasquier, who launched the event in Paris in 1988, says more than two dozen orchestras are set to entertain guests.

— Fox News, "Paris site of 30th 'Diner en Blanc' secret until last minute," 3 June 2018
Armstrong, and producers McKay and Will Ferrell, seem to be trying to entertain, and also work out some aggression.

— peter hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, "HBO’s ‘Succession’ is a cruel catharsis, and perfect for our swampy time," 1 June 2018
The agency doesn’t intend to entertain such requests, but is also bracing for court challenges to that decision, according to a senior administration official.

— christopher m. matthews, WSJ, "EPA Gives $30 Million-Plus in Ethanol Credits to Oil Refiners, Angers Corn Growers," 31 May 2018
The aspiring actress’ job was to entertain the audience before the show started.

— NBC News, "The ridiculously simple way to save money: envelopes," 29 May 2018
Up above, a rooftop deck adds more space to entertain.

— jack flemming, latimes.com, "Coronado home of convicted Mexican tycoon hits the market for $9.5 million," 24 May 2018
For thousands and thousands of years, all kinds of people in all kinds of parts of the world have told stories to entertain each other.

— julie miller, HWD, "Kristen Stewart and Cate Blanchett Celebrate Patty Jenkins as Storm Rages at Cannes," 14 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'entertain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of entertain

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

entertain Synonyms

Synonyms

amuse, disport, divert, regale, solace;

Near Antonyms

bore, jade;

drain, enervate, exhaust, fatigue, tire, wear, wear out, weary;

aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, disturb, exasperate, fret, gall, grate, harass, harry, irk, nettle, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, upset, vex;

beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), fascinate;

grip, hypnotize, intrigue, mesmerize;

coddle, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, please, pleasure, spoil;

appease, comfort, conciliate, console, content, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, soothe;

Synonym Discussion of 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

ENTERTAIN Defined for English Language Learners

entertain

verb

Definition of entertain for English Language Learners

: to have people as guests in your home or in a public place (such as a restaurant)
: to perform for (an audience) : to provide amusement for (someone) by singing, acting, etc.
: to provide or be entertainment for (someone)