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
Putin has rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire and refused to entertain concessions as part of a peace deal with Ukraine.
—
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
The media entertains these questions, in an effort to intellectualize the ideologies underpinning the cult’s bloodlust.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2025
One of the best and most simple ways to both entertain and educate your child in the car, however, is just to listen to music with them.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 20 Oct. 2025
The final half-hour did not make for entertaining viewing, but United’s compact 5-4-1 had just enough to deal with the majority of Liverpool’s siege-like attempts.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for entertain
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
The media entertains these questions, in an effort to intellectualize the ideologies underpinning the cult’s bloodlust.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2025
One of the best and most simple ways to both entertain and educate your child in the car, however, is just to listen to music with them.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 20 Oct. 2025
The final half-hour did not make for entertaining viewing, but United’s compact 5-4-1 had just enough to deal with the majority of Liverpool’s siege-like attempts.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for entertain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entertain
Verb
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Her husband seemed amused by her confusion.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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The October 19 post has received numerous comments, with viewers amused by the golden retriever’s dramatic response.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 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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Players can also add the Double Play for an additional $1 to have a second chance at winning $10 million.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
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That means more than one of every eight of Kroger's 103 stores in its Cincinnati-Dayton division (which includes Northern Kentucky) have the digital devices so far.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 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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Gavin Newsom is pondering a White House run.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Oct. 2025
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Martinez notes that the mind-bending plot has given audiences a cinematic experience to truly ponder.—
William Earl,
Variety,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Slot’s side fell behind to Rasmus Kristensen’s strike but held their nerve and took complete control with 14 shots on target compared to just one.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Many of the marble mausoleums on this 14-acre spot are held by Argentina’s elite, some famous, others infamous—think past presidents, Nobel Prize winners, and military commanders.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To stake his claim to be considered for a F1 seat at any team, the 20-year-old would increase his odds by bagging the F2 title.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Travelers to Europe should consider a phone crossbody purse instead, like this compact but spacious one from Amazon.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The design challenge is to maintain console-grade responsiveness while retaining flexibility, likely through a dedicated TV shell and systems that manage background apps and drivers.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
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Sarah retained her Duchess of York title following her divorce.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Entertain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entertain. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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