entertain

verb

en·​ter·​tain ˌen-tər-ˈtān 

ˌin-

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

Synonyms of entertain

• amuse
• regale

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

The image of retro cookbooks and gloriously frosted cakes looks good enough to eat and tricky enough to keep even diehard puzzlers entertained for hours. —Melissa Locker, Time, 17 Nov. 2025

Fresh flicks are newly arrived on your favorite platformslike Netflix, Hulu, Peacock and Amazon's Prime Video to entertain a variety of different tastes. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025

Some, such as Ignat Trofimov and Ivan Kalugin, made these dangerous captures a family business; their dynasties would operate for decades, satisfying demand from the zoos and circuses of the world eager for roaring tigers to entertain paying guests. —Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025

And for the last seven months, Oscar pundits have entertained a wide swath of possibilities for its path to next March’s Oscar ceremony. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

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

Rhymes for entertain

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• gethsemane
• halothane
• hurricane
• hyperplane

Kids Definition

entertain

verb

en·​ter·​tain ˌent-ər-ˈtān 

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