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entertain

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of entertain

1 to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied

  • entertain the kids while I go and prepare dinner
Synonyms of entertain

amuse, disport, divert, regale, solace
Words Related to entertain

absorb, busy, distract, engage, engross, immerse, interest, involve, occupy

beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), fascinate

grip, hypnotize, intrigue, mesmerize

coddle, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, please, pleasure, spoil

appease, comfort, conciliate, console, content, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, soothe
Near Antonyms of entertain

bore, jade

drain, enervate, exhaust, fatigue, tire, wear, wear out, weary

aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, disturb, exasperate, fret, gall, grate, harass, harry, irk, nettle, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, upset, vex

2 to give serious and careful thought to

  • have you ever entertained the thought that you could be wrong?
Synonyms of entertain

chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, ponder, pore (over), question, revolve, ruminate, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with)
Words Related to entertain

muse (upon), reflect (on or upon), reminisce

analyze, explore, review

conclude, reason

second-guess, speculate (about)

brood (about or over), dwell (on or upon), fixate (on or upon), fret (about or over), obsess (about or over)

believe, conceive, opine

absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in)
Phrases Synonymous with entertain

beat one's brains out (about), chew on, cudgel oneʼs brains (about), look at
Near Antonyms of entertain

disregard, ignore, overlook, slight

dismiss, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject

3 to keep in oneʼs mind or heart

  • I donʼt entertain the hope of ever getting a girl like that to go out with me
Synonyms of entertain

bear, cherish, harbor, have, hold, nurse
Words Related to entertain

cultivate, foster, nurture, support, sustain

carry, keep, maintain, preserve, remember, retain, treasure

cleave (to), cling (to), hug, stick (to)

brood (about or over), fixate (on or upon), obsess (about or over)
Phrases Synonymous with entertain

hang on to, hold on to
Near Antonyms of entertain

disregard, drop, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook

abjure, decline, deny, disdain, refuse, reject, repudiate, scorn

abandon, desert, discard, forsake, give up, part (with), quit, renounce, throw out

erase, expunge

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about entertain

  1. Dictionary: Definition of entertain Spanish Central: Translation of entertain Nglish: Translation of entertain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of entertain for Arabic speakers

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