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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of entertains
But, of course, nobody entertains for a moment the thought that the fund could conceivably reward an actual victim of weaponization.
—
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
Elsewhere, the female duo invokes some breaking of the fourth wall for good measure, just as the film, at points, entertains conspiratorial views regarding 9/11, perhaps to dispel the idea that this work is solely an exercise in verisimilitude.
—Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
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
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
Elsewhere, the female duo invokes some breaking of the fourth wall for good measure, just as the film, at points, entertains conspiratorial views regarding 9/11, perhaps to dispel the idea that this work is solely an exercise in verisimilitude.
—Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
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
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
-
Studies have suggested that the pill results in more pronounced weight loss than Foundayo and has certain cardiovascular benefits, but so far, no clinical trial has directly compared the two drugs.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
The year-round surf breaks—including the fast-barreling tubes of Cloud 9, some 30 minutes from the resort—draw most visitors to the island, and Nay Palad’s team has a Rolodex of pro surf instructors on call to show guests the best waves.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 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
-
His life is both ordinary and extraordinary, and the storytelling holds those seeming opposites in pleasing tension.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 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
-
Beckham retains a 45% stake in the business after selling the remainder of his commercial empire to Authentic Brands Group.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
As part of the acquisition, Sentivo retains the intellectual property of Cielo Estate, including its branding, member base and existing inventory, which will be sold under the Sentivo imprimatur.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entertains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entertains. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
