Definition of 'entertain'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense entertains
, present participle entertaining
, past tense, past participle entertained
1. verb
2. verb
3. verb
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
entertain
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
Word Frequency
entertain in British English
verb
2.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C15: from Old French entretenir, from entre- mutually + tenir to hold, from Latin tenēreWord Frequency
entertain in American English
verb transitive
2.
to hold the interest of and give pleasure to; divert; amuse
3.
to give hospitality to; have as a guest
4.
to allow oneself to think about; have in mind; consider
to entertain an idea
verb intransitive
5.
to give hospitality to guests
SIMILAR WORDS: aˈmuse
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME entretinen < OFr entretenir, to maintain, hold together < entre (L inter), between + tenir < L tenere, to hold: see thinWord Frequency
entertain in American English
(ˌentərˈtein)
transitive verb
1.
to hold the attention of pleasantly or agreeably; divert; amuse
2.
to have as a guest; provide food, lodging, etc., for; show hospitality to
5. archaic
to maintain or keep up
intransitive verb
SYNONYMS 1. beguile, regale. See amuse.ANTONYMS 1. bore. 3. reject.7.
They loved to talk, dance, and entertain
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1425–75; late ME entertenen to hold mutually ‹ MF entretenir ‹‹ VL *intertenēre, equiv. to L inter- inter- + tenēre to hold]Examples of 'entertain' in a sentence
entertain
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.
We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
Trends of
entertain
View usage for:
Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
In other languages
entertain
British English: entertain
/ˌɛntəˈteɪn/ VERB
If you entertain, or entertain people, you do something that amuses or interests them.
Children's television not only entertains but also educates.
- American English: entertain /ɛntərˈteɪn/
- Arabic: يُسَلِّي يسلي
- Brazilian Portuguese: entreter
- Chinese: 娱乐
- Croatian: zabavljati
- Czech: bavit
- Danish: underholde
- Dutch: amuseren
- European Spanish: entretener
- Finnish: viihdyttää
- French: amuser
- German: unterhalten
- Greek: ψυχαγωγώ
- Italian: divertire
- Japanese: 楽しませる
- Korean: 대접하다
- Norwegian: underholde
- Polish: zabawić
- European Portuguese: entreter
- Romanian: a distra
- Russian: развлекать
- Latin American Spanish: entretener
- Swedish: underhålla ge nöje
- Thai: ทำให้เพลิดเพลิน, รู้สึกเพลิดเพลิน
- Turkish: eğlendirmek
- Ukrainian: розважати
- Vietnamese: giải trí
Browse alphabetically
entertain
Related terms of
entertain
Source
Definition of entertain from the Collins English Dictionary
Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries.
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
harp
grand piano
xylophone
organ
Your score:
Word of the day
sea change
A sea change in someone's attitudes or behaviour is a complete change.
Latest Word Submissions
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
SPORTS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
weightlifting
golf
water polo
karate
SPORTS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
gymnastics
luge
shotput
fencing
SPORTS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
ice skating
darts
sailing
canoeing
SPORTS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
hurdles
climbing
yoga
shooting
Your score:
Learrning English: Saying goodbye
Learn informal ways to say goodbye in British English - from 'Goodbye' to 'See ya!' with examples and tips for everyday use.
Read more
Scrabble: Spoilt for Choice
Strategize your Scrabble moves based on anagrams on the board, score, vowel placement, and hooks to get the best score you can.
Read more
‘100 Words for Rain’ by Alex Johnson
Discover the allure of weather lore and literary references in "100 Words for Rain" and delve into rain phenomena and cultural anecdotes.
Read more
Learning English: Making a phone call
Ease your nerves with these helpful phrases for English phone calls. From introductions to inquiries, master effective communication.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more