entertain

IPA/ˌentəˈteɪn/
KK[ˌɛntɚtˈen]IPA/ˌentərˈteɪn/

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

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to do something that makes an audience or group of people laugh, smile, or stay interested, especially through a planned performance, story, or activity

Example

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]

Common collocations
  • entertain with
  • entertain by
  • entertain guests
  • entertain an audience
Synonyms
  • amuse

    lighter and more casual; focuses on making people smile rather than sustaining interest over time

  • delight

    suggests giving great pleasure, often through something unexpected or charming

  • captivate

    implies holding complete attention through fascination; stronger emotional pull

Antonyms
  • bore

    to make someone lose interest or feel tired

Grammar Patterns

entertain + object

entertain + object + with + noun

Usage Note

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').

Common Mistakes

The comedian entertained the audience by his jokes.
The comedian entertained the audience with his jokes.
Use 'with', not 'by', to introduce the means of entertainment.

2. to welcome people into your home as guests and provide them with meals, drinks,

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to welcome people into your home as guests and provide them with meals, drinks, and friendly company

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • entertain guests
  • entertain friends
  • entertain colleagues
  • entertain at home
  • entertain with food
Synonyms
  • host

    more general; can refer to events outside the home, such as hosting a conference

  • receive

    more formal; suggests a ceremonial or very polite welcome

Antonyms
  • neglect

    to fail to attend to a guest's needs

Grammar Patterns

entertain + object

entertain + object + at + place

entertain + object + with + food/drink

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

I will entertain you at my house next Friday.
I would love to entertain you at my house next Friday.
When inviting, use polite modals like 'would love to' instead of a bare future tense.

3. to give consideration to a thought, plan, or suggestion — especially one that se

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to give consideration to a thought, plan, or suggestion — especially one that seems unusual or novel — rather than dismissing it straight away

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • entertain an idea
  • entertain a thought
  • entertain a notion
  • entertain a possibility
  • entertain a suggestion
  • entertain a doubt
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • reject

    to refuse to accept or consider something

Grammar Patterns

entertain + noun (idea/thought/suggestion/possibility/doubt)

Usage Note

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.'

Common Mistakes

I entertained to move to a new city.
I entertained the idea of moving to a new city.
This sense requires a noun object such as 'idea' or 'thought'; it cannot be followed by a to-infinitive.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Entertain is the most general of these words — it refers to any activity that keeps people interested or amused, often through a planned performance, story, or activity. Amuse is lighter and more casual, focusing on making people smile or laugh in the moment rather than sustaining their interest over time. Delight suggests giving great pleasure, often through something surprising or charming that creates a feeling of joy. Charm implies using personal warmth or charisma to please others, while captivate means holding someone's complete attention through deep fascination. For example, a clown entertains children with tricks, a silly face amuses a baby, a surprise gift delights a friend, a polite smile charms a stranger, and a breathtaking magic show captivates the entire audience.

amuse ↗delight ↗charm ↗captivate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • entertain at home
  • entertain the idea of
  • refuse to entertain
  • would not entertain

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Entertain entered English from Old French 'entretenir,' meaning 'to hold together, keep up, or maintain.' The word was formed from Latin elements: 'inter-' (between) and 'tenere' (to hold). Its original sense was about maintaining a relationship or conversation. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'keeping someone in a certain state of mind' to 'keeping someone occupied or amused,' and later to 'receiving guests socially.' The modern sense of 'considering an idea' preserves the original image of holding something in one's mind.