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

Trotting out this try-hard trifecta of confusing, uninspired installments in a year that’s seen so many entertaining, thought-provoking additions to the horror genre? — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2026

Downstairs, the house shifts more toward entertaining, with a wine cellar that can hold more than 3,000 bottles, a bar, a gym, a golf simulator, and an indoor putting green. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026

Don't let the fancy numbers next to teams like LSU and Texas A&M distract you from the fact that this could be the most entertaining game of the weekend. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Unfortunately, the results, while splashily entertaining, feel helium-light instead of morally weighty, with each encounter at once high-stakes and emotionally obvious. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 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