entertaining

1 of 2

adjective

en·​ter·​tain·​ing ˌen-tər-ˈtā-niŋ 

ˌin-

: providing entertainment : diverting

an entertaining book

an entertaining speaker

entertainingly

ˌen-tər-ˈtā-niŋ-lē 

ˌin-

adverb

entertaining

2 of 2

present participle of entertain

Synonyms of entertaining

Adjective

• amusing
• fun
• enjoyable
• delightful

Examples of entertaining in a Sentence

Adjective

a list of entertaining things to do on a snow day

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Like the heroes of those films, Safdie is a native New Yorker and a very fast, very entertaining talker. — Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

That’s the crux of their demand for a salary cap that no doubt will lead to a lockout and severely damage the sport soon after this most entertaining postseason ends. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Jesse Eisenberg continues to tread the festival circuit with his musical comedy The Debut, and on Sunday afternoon was wildly entertaining at a high-energy Screen Talk event ahead of his film’s closing the BFI London Film Festival. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026

The entertaining spaces, including the adjoining living and dining rooms, are framed by large windows that look out on the rolling hills. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1582, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for entertaining

• appertaining
• ascertaining
• uncomplaining
• abstaining
• attaining
• campaigning
• complaining
• constraining
• containing
• detaining
• disdaining
• entraining

Kids Definition

entertaining

adjective

en·​ter·​tain·​ing ˌen-tər-ˈtān-iŋ 

: providing amusement, diversion, or recreation

an entertaining book

entertainingly adverb