entertain
/ˌentəˈteɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌentərˈteɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌen-tər-ˈtān ˌin-/ (ame, mw)
entertain — verb
- entertainpresent simple I / you / we / they
- entertainshe / she / it
- entertainedpast simple
- entertaining-ing form
1. to do something that makes an audience or group of people laugh, smile, or stay
to do something that makes an audience or group of people laugh, smile, or stay interested, especially through a planned performance, story, or activity
Pedro entertained the children at the party with magic tricks and colourful balloons.
entertain + with [activity/objects]
The street musician entertained passengers waiting for the bus at the station.
entertain + audience + at [location]
Eleni entertained her younger cousins by teaching them simple dance moves.
Grandfather entertained everyone at dinner with funny stories about his school days.
A documentary about penguins entertained viewers of all ages last weekend.
- bore
to make someone lose interest or feel tired
文法句型
entertain + object
entertain + object + with + noun
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'with' to introduce the activity or performance that provides the amusement. The verb can be used both transitively ('the clown entertained the children') and intransitively ('he knows how to entertain').
常見錯誤
2. to welcome people into your home as guests and provide them with meals, drinks,
to welcome people into your home as guests and provide them with meals, drinks, and friendly company
The Okonkwo family entertained us at their home with a traditional Nigerian dinner.
entertain + at [place] + with [meal]
Talia loves to entertain friends on weekends with homemade pizza and board games.
Quan entertained colleagues from the Taipei office at a restaurant near the hotel.
Anjali entertained her book club members with tea and freshly baked scones.
We rarely entertain at home because our kitchen is too small for dinner parties.
- neglect
to fail to attend to a guest's needs
文法句型
entertain + object
entertain + object + at + place
entertain + object + with + food/drink
用法筆記
Commonly used in polite invitations or descriptions of social life. Often appears with frequency adverbs such as 'often,' 'seldom,' or 'rarely' in the intransitive form.
常見錯誤
3. to give consideration to a thought, plan, or suggestion — especially one that se
to give consideration to a thought, plan, or suggestion — especially one that seems unusual or novel — rather than dismissing it straight away
The committee refused to entertain the proposal to cut the school budget.
often in negative: refuse to entertain [proposal/idea]
Felix entertained the thought of studying veterinary medicine after volunteering at an animal shelter.
The manager would not entertain the idea of hiring more staff this year.
Layla had never entertained the possibility of leaving her hometown until she received the scholarship offer.
The judge declined to entertain the lawyer's request for a further delay in the trial.
- consider
more neutral and everyday; does not carry the connotation of openness to something unexpected
- contemplate
implies deeper or more prolonged thought than entertain
- harbour
often suggests holding onto a feeling or suspicion privately, sometimes with negative connotations
- reject
to refuse to accept or consider something
文法句型
entertain + noun (idea/thought/suggestion/possibility/doubt)
用法筆記
Almost always takes a noun phrase as object (idea, thought, notion, suggestion, possibility, doubt, request). This sense does not occur in the intransitive form. Frequently used in negative or conditional structures, especially with 'refuse to,' 'would not,' or 'could not.'