1
as in amuses
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied
entertain the kids while I go and prepare dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in contemplates
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 has
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 entertains
Umbrellas are dotting the viewing area as a Marine band entertains guests.
—
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Activities To understand how MharoKhet connects the farm to the plate, sign up for the daily, complimentary farm walk that both educates and entertains.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
With delicate humor and heartfelt moments, this bittersweet class-comedy entertains while provoking thought about our ability to live together and create meaningful connections.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
This style of theater both enlightens and entertains, each actor stepping out of the ensemble inside Kelleher’s direction that teeters on the edge of heavy-handidness without ever getting there.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
Take the quiz here … EGG DROP — Chef entertains food festival crowd with unexpected crack.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
According to Fora advisor Amna Ismail, the museum entertains guests of all ages with its collection of over 33 million specimens and artifacts.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
The Oscar-winning actress also sings, writes, entertains fans with her viral cooking videos, and helms the lifestyle empire Goop — valued at around $250 million.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
For the family that entertains often, the kitchen was designed to be fully functional without sacrificing atmosphere.
—Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Activities To understand how MharoKhet connects the farm to the plate, sign up for the daily, complimentary farm walk that both educates and entertains.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
With delicate humor and heartfelt moments, this bittersweet class-comedy entertains while provoking thought about our ability to live together and create meaningful connections.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
This style of theater both enlightens and entertains, each actor stepping out of the ensemble inside Kelleher’s direction that teeters on the edge of heavy-handidness without ever getting there.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
Take the quiz here … EGG DROP — Chef entertains food festival crowd with unexpected crack.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
According to Fora advisor Amna Ismail, the museum entertains guests of all ages with its collection of over 33 million specimens and artifacts.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
The Oscar-winning actress also sings, writes, entertains fans with her viral cooking videos, and helms the lifestyle empire Goop — valued at around $250 million.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
For the family that entertains often, the kitchen was designed to be fully functional without sacrificing atmosphere.
—Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entertains
Verb
-
And Griffin Hanson amuses in several small roles.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The thing that amuses me the most?—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Inspired by their connection, Étienne contemplates exchanging his lonely existence for one filled with romance, but with a demanding route to cover, starring in a great love story may not be in the cards for the hard-working road warrior.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
-
Broward and its municipalities have already secured nearly $66 million in Resilient Florida funding for infrastructure improvements, alongside a long-term investment framework that contemplates tens of billions of dollars in resilience spending.—
Walter Duke III,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The conceit also has a moral dimension.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
But Indiana still has key members of that team returning next season, including Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Around the old-growth-fir dining table, Nansen regales us with tales of the rebuild.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In the indie film, Hawke transforms himself into the diminutive composer, who regales attendees at Sardi’s bar with anecdotes about his career highs in the theater and bemoans the loss of his former partnership with Richard Rodgers.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As coach John Hynes ponders his Game 1 starter, the recent numbers will show that Wallstedt has allowed a total of four goals in his final two regular-season starts, while veteran Filip Gustavsson has been touched for 10 in the same span.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
15 Apr. 2026
-
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The bank holds the underlying fiat fully reserved and does not lend or invest it.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Opened in the ’80s and lovingly restored in recent years, the park still holds a timeless charm of bright lights, rides, and carousel music that carries into the night.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Lehmann considers the contested history of Anne Boleyn, the outlandish accusations against her, and the ways in which her image has been erased and changed over time.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
Israel considers all of Jerusalem to be its eternal, undivided capital.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, still retains a minority stake in the American version of TikTok, which licenses its algorithm from ByteDance.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
-
Notably, the company retains its cultural relevance through a series of collaborations and partnerships that link the world of fragrance with overall beauty, entertainment, fashion and pop culture.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entertains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entertains. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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