entertain
ehn-tuh-TAYN
Entertain (verb) means to hold someone's attention pleasantly; to amuse. Example: “The clown entertained the children for hours.”
verb
1
To hold someone's attention pleasantly; to amuse.
"The clown entertained the children for hours."
"This novel entertains from the very first page."
"The street musicians entertained the queue while we waited for the museum to open."
2
To host guests, often with food and hospitality.
"They love entertaining friends at their lake house every summer."
"We are entertaining my parents on Saturday, so I need to plan the menu."
"She loves to entertain, and her dining table is always full of guests."
3
To consider an idea seriously, especially one that seems unlikely.
"She refused to entertain the possibility of failure."
"The manager would not entertain the idea of closing the shop early on Friday."
"I couldn't entertain the thought of moving abroad at my age."
How to use entertain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo amuse people, host guests, or seriously consider an idea.
Common pairings
entertain guests
entertain the idea
entertain an audience
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- entertains
- Past tense
- entertained
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The clown _____ the children for hours.
Etymology
From Old French entretenir, from entre ("among") + tenir ("to hold"), originally meaning to maintain or keep someone engaged.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for entertain
See all rhymes for entertain →Frequently asked questions
What does “entertain” mean?
The word “entertain” means to hold someone's attention pleasantly; to amuse. In plain terms, to amuse people, host guests, or seriously consider an idea.
How do you pronounce “entertain”?
“Entertain” is pronounced ehn-tuh-TAYN (/ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “entertain” in a sentence?
Here is “entertain” used in a sentence: “The clown entertained the children for hours.”
What part of speech is “entertain”?
“Entertain” is a verb.
Where does the word “entertain” come from?
The word “entertain” comes from Old French. From Old French entretenir, from entre ("among") + tenir ("to hold"), originally meaning to maintain or keep someone engaged.
Is “entertain” a common word?
“Entertain” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “entertain” have?
“Entertain” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to hold someone's attention pleasantly; to amuse.
What is the difference between entertain and amuse?
Entertain covers a broad range of ways to hold someone's attention pleasantly, including performances, hospitality, and hosting. Amuse specifically refers to causing light enjoyment or laughter, making it a narrower term that overlaps with just one sense of entertain.
What does it mean to entertain an idea?
To entertain an idea means to consider it seriously as a possibility, especially one that initially seems unlikely or unusual, as in "I'll entertain the suggestion, but I'm skeptical." This sense has nothing to do with amusement or hosting guests.
What is the difference between entertain and host when it comes to guests?
Entertain implies actively providing enjoyment, food, or hospitality to guests, suggesting a lively or pleasant occasion. Host is more neutral, simply meaning to have guests over, without necessarily implying the same level of active engagement or enjoyment.
