Entertain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

entertain

verb

en·​ter·​tain ˌen-tər-ˈtān How to pronounce entertain (audio)
entertained; entertaining; entertains

transitive verb

1
: to show hospitality to
entertain guests
2
: to provide entertainment for
3
a
: to keep, hold, or maintain in the mind
I entertain grave doubts about her sincerity.
b
: to receive and take into consideration
refused to entertain our plea
4
: to play against (an opposing team) on one's home field or court
5
a
archaic : maintain
b
obsolete : receive

intransitive verb

: to provide entertainment especially for guests
entertainer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for entertain

amuse, divert, entertain mean to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly.

amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly.

amuse yourselves while I make dinner

divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny.

a light comedy to divert the tired businessman

entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods.

a magician entertaining children at a party

Examples of entertain in a Sentence

They like to entertain their friends at their summer home. Much of his job as a salesman involves entertaining clients. Jugglers were on hand to entertain the crowd. Our father entertained us with stories. Our father's stories entertained us.
Recent Examples on the Web There, others incarcerated in the same housing unit said the 24-year-old often entertained them by talking and singing all day. Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2024 The new film is professionally made, well-acted, entertaining enough, and possessed of no earthly reason to exist aside from the care and feeding of intellectual property. Ty Burr, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Perry said the goals of the privately funded, nonprofit San Diego museum will be to educate, entertain and inspire visitors. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024 The golden retriever and shepherd mix get to enjoy romping across two backyards thanks to their owners' new installation Two neighbors in California's Bay Area have found the perfect way to keep their dogs, who are best friends, entertained. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024 On a recent episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert even openly entertained rumors about Kate and William’s personal lives. Aj Willingham, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 Disclosure, Nitin Sawhney, Orbital, Paloma Faith, Peggy Gou, James Blake, The Streets, Barry Can’t Swim, Honey Dijon, Bonobo, and Faithless are also among the acts set to entertain the Glastonbury crowd. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 The music and entertainment venue has introduced an army of Aura robots to assist with various tasks, including offering directions, entertaining guests and participating in conversations — some of which may be complex. Gideon Kimbrell, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 The company braved a sharp drop in demand for toys right after the pandemic, when people—old and young—were confined to their homes and forced to entertain themselves. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'entertain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English entertinen, from Middle French entretenir, from entre- inter- + tenir to hold — more at tenable

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5a

Time Traveler
The first known use of entertain was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near entertain

Cite this Entry

“Entertain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entertain. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

entertain

verb
en·​ter·​tain ˌent-ər-ˈtān How to pronounce entertain (audio)
1
: to receive and provide for as host : have as a guest
entertain friends over the weekend
2
a
: to provide entertainment
b
: to be a source of entertainment for
entertained us with stories
3
: to have in mind : consider
entertained thoughts of quitting
entertainer
ˌen-tər-ˈtā-nər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on entertain

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