as in amusing
providing amusement or enjoyment
a list of entertaining things to do on a snow day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in regaling
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied
entertain the kids while I go and prepare dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in considering
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 having
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of entertaining
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
The action on the field was entertaining but the true story was the impact of the lead-up process.
—Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Additionally, homeowners are entertaining more often, increasing demand for social spaces.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for entertaining
Adjective
This beautiful, big-batch pavlova is Assistant Food Editor Alana Al-Hatlani’s go-to dessert for entertaining.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
The action on the field was entertaining but the true story was the impact of the lead-up process.
—Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
As the Paramount upfront meetings commence, the company appears poised to keep them and is not at present entertaining any notions of returning to the days when CBS held court in front of advertisers at Carnegie Hall.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Additionally, homeowners are entertaining more often, increasing demand for social spaces.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for entertaining
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entertaining
Adjective
-
Each episode features amusing sit-downs with students from Brooklyn Elementary School in Comox, British Columbia.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Director Scott Ellis understands all this, and thus the admirably specific physical business and slurred verbosity in his gently outré revival really makes for quite the amusing diversion.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tony drove us around one afternoon, regaling us with stories about Fogo’s history.—
Akash Kapur,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Robbie is at her finest when regaling Charli XCX or Jessie Ware and her mom about her clubbing days.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
City are also considering other options, while Real Madrid have been touted as a possible destination for Rodri too.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Florida, for instance, is set to hold a special session next week that will include considering mid-decade redistricting.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The other soldier is accused of having contact with a foreign agent, transmitting information to the enemy and other offenses, according to the indictment.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
-
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan know that having two solid contributors on cheap deals is vastly superior to having one overpriced guy who is statistically no better than the field.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sprinkled along the way are fun cameos from the familiar Broadway faces Ana Gasteyer, Ann Harada, McKenzie Kurtz and Brad Oscar, all veteran musical actors whose very presence is all part of the show’s central joke.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
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Lisa Parigi, Lionel Richie, Will Ferrell and Viveca Paulin are a fun four at LACMA's Opening Gala for The David Geffen Galleries in Los Angeles on April 16.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Idaho lawmakers spent hours debating a surge in rodents menacing Boise-area gardens and kitchens and threatening agriculture and public health.—
Karin Brulliard,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The hoods might just as well evoke the garb of Christian monks debating whether the soul is distinct from the body.—
Dawn Chan,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Former Canadiens captain Yvan Cournoyer entered the Bell Centre from that plaza holding a torch, walked it into the building and the arena bowl, setting off the Canadiens’ traditional playoff ritual of the ice catching fire, and the building roared.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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The top of his head drilled Bona’s chest, and the Celtics guard crumbled to the court, holding his neck.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Make working from home more enjoyable with a clever USB desk fan ($8) and soothing essential oil diffuser ($7).—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This premise, bolstered by excellent performances all around, could easily have sustained a totally enjoyable TV show.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entertaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entertaining. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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