1
as in to amuse
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied
entertain the kids while I go and prepare dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to contemplate
to give serious and careful thought to
have you ever entertained the thought that you could be wrong?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to have
to keep in one's mind or heart
I don't entertain the hope of ever getting a girl like that to go out with me
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of entertain
On nights when Nova’s feeling sleepy, Poppy happily entertains herself with her mountain of toys — or by spinning in happy circles to reclaim that elusive tail.
—
Evan Moore
november 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2025
The teaser begins by regaling the audience with all the ways the original Pump Rulers entertained us through the years.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
Thought to be named after Japan’s Mount Fuji by genre pioneer Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister in the 1960s, fújì took cues from the wéré music played during Ramadan to wake and entertain Muslims for the Sahur meal before dawn.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
These are heavy topics in a time when people just want to watch the show and be entertained.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for entertain
Evan Moore
november 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2025
The teaser begins by regaling the audience with all the ways the original Pump Rulers entertained us through the years.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
Thought to be named after Japan’s Mount Fuji by genre pioneer Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister in the 1960s, fújì took cues from the wéré music played during Ramadan to wake and entertain Muslims for the Sahur meal before dawn.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
These are heavy topics in a time when people just want to watch the show and be entertained.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for entertain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entertain
Verb
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The Special Olympics are not amused after Kid Rock used an ableist slur while making a joke in a recent Fox News interview.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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The footage left internet viewers both amused and confused.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Louise Hémon The jury would also like to acknowledge a director whose film transported us into an extreme landscape, and created an unsettling atmosphere that kept us contemplating the nature of lust, education, and violence.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
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Deacon clatters off in his truck, leaving me to contemplate my new home.—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The company has pilot programs in Singapore, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among others.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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Ovechkin now has eight points on the year despite the Capitals’ disappointing start to the 2025-2026 campaign.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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His father, a veteran of World War II, was a burial vault salesman and would often take Fitzpatrick with him on business trips, regaling him with tales of the city.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
23 Oct. 2025
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But his film career began in earnest with 2020's Scare Me, a stylish comedy about writers regaling each story with spooky tales in an isolated cabin during a power outage.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Just ask the folks who’ve made the college basketball committee which is currently pondering expanding its beautiful bracket to 76 teams.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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As with many of A24's horror movies, we're left to ponder whether anything supernatural happens as Maud's quest reaches its apotheosis, proving that fanatical belief is enough to inspire great terrors.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While the Danish pharma giant holds the patents to these GLP-1s for the time being, some are due to expire as early as next year.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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In November 2026, 33 seats will be contested, 20 of which are currently held by Republicans and 13 by Democrats.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Now, Seven Point is strongly considering Houlihan Lokey to provide the mark-to-market valuation analysis of its portfolio holdings to deliver to investors.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
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The 24 entry-level terrace rooms start at 645 square feet, with spacious balconies overlooking the garden; the 14 Upper Terrace rooms, one floor up, are the same size, but considered ocean-facing, given the elevated viewpoint.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This preform is then heated and stretched, much like molten plastic, to produce thin fibers that retain the same intricate internal structure.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
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Starbucks will retain a 40% interest in the joint venture and will continue to own and license the brand and intellectual property to the new entity, the companies said.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Entertain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entertain. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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