Synonyms of entertain

entertain

verb

ˌen-tər-ˈtān 

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

• amuse
• regale
• distract
• delight
• occupy
• appease
• divert
• please
• busy
• solace
• engage
• interest
• enchant
• captivate
• engross
• involve
• disport
• console
• charm
• comfort
• fascinate
• immerse
• hypnotize
• indulge
• enthrall
• intrigue
• beguile
• bewitch
• gratify
• placate
• spoil
• pamper
• soothe
• pleasure
• mesmerize
• absorb
• humor
• oblige
• content
• pacify
• mollify
• conciliate
• coddle
• propitiate
• grip
• mollycoddle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bore
• weary
• wear
• drain
• exhaust
• wear out
• annoy
• bother
• harass
• disturb
• aggravate
• upset
• fatigue
• tire
• exasperate
• pester
• enervate
• vex
• irk
• perturb
• bug
• jade
• pique
• fret
• harry
• grate
• chafe
• gall
• peeve
• nettle

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

• contemplate
• ponder
• consider
• debate
• question
• study
• explore
• weigh
• eye
• analyze
• ruminate
• review
• chew on
• cogitate
• deliberate
• revolve
• meditate
• look at
• think (about or over)
• mull (over)
• wrestle (with)
• chew over
• turn
• pore (over)
• kick around
• digest
• perpend
• reminisce
• reflect (on or upon)
• muse (upon)
• beat one's brains out (about)
• believe
• reason
• cudgel one's brains (about)
• conclude
• absorb
• conceive
• speculate (about)
• dwell (on or upon)
• opine
• fixate (on or upon)
• assimilate
• second-guess
• fret (about or over)
• brood (about or over)
• obsess (about or over)
• drink (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• slight
• disregard
• overlook
• dismiss
• reject
• pooh-pooh

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• have
• hold
• retain
• cherish
• cultivate
• keep
• harbor
• bear
• maintain
• carry
• nurse
• sustain
• nurture
• hold on to
• remember
• hang on to
• foster
• preserve
• support
• treasure
• hug
• stick (to)
• cling (to)
• cleave (to)
• fixate (on or upon)
• brood (about or over)
• obsess (about or over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• ignore
• refuse
• deny
• disregard
• reject
• drop
• overlook
• neglect
• decline
• abandon
• repudiate
• scorn
• quit
• give up
• renounce
• discard
• forsake
• part (with)
• desert
• disdain
• erase
• abjure
• throw out
• expunge

Synonym Chooser

How is the word entertain different from other verbs like it?

The words amuse and divert are common synonyms of entertain. While all three words mean "to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly," entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods.

a magician entertaining children at a party

When is it sensible to use amuse instead of entertain?

The words amuse and entertain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly.

amuse yourselves while I make dinner

When is divert a more appropriate choice than entertain?

The meanings of divert and entertain largely overlap; however, divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny.

a light comedy to divert the tired businessman

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of entertain

At a steakhouse, tableside presentation, professional servers and beautiful slabs of beef start entertaining diners before the first bite. —David Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

Moe entertains far grander dreams. —David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Both entertain, although in very different ways. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 June 2026

Cozy and casual, the round bar and bistro-style wood tables are usually packed with workers at the end of the day, softball teams celebrating a win, locals from the neighborhood, people who left but can’t stay away for long, and entertaining local characters that defy description. —Tanya Edwards, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026