entertain
verb
en·ter·tain ˌen-tər-ˈtān 
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
Synonyms
- amuse
- disport
- divert
- regale
- solace
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Dixon doesn’t even entertain the idea of joining the exclusive club. 
Jenna Fryer, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 Dixon doesn't even entertain the idea of joining the exclusive club. Jenna Fryer, ajc, 9 Sep. 2022 Boras hinted that Soto won’t entertain signing a contract extension until the situation is settled. Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2022 If Congress won’t entertain a ban on assault-style weapons, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) has a new idea: imposing a 1,000 percent tax on them. Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 This isn't to say the Grizzlies shouldn't entertain trade offers for their treasure of assets. Morten Jensen, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022 Parents have no real options for back-up care — such as a drop-in day care or a babysitter — when their child might be carrying COVID-19, especially as infants and toddlers cannot easily or safely entertain themselves. Alison Bowen, chicagotribune.com, 21 Jan. 2022 Teams will also remain isolated in the team hotel and cannot entertain visitors on the road. Peter Aitken, Fox News, 18 Dec. 2021 He was followed by Vermont Governor Phil Scott, who didn’t even entertain calls to get into his state’s newly open Senate race after the retirement of Senator Pat Leahy. James Pindell, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Dec. 2021 See More
Jenna Fryer, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 Dixon doesn't even entertain the idea of joining the exclusive club. Jenna Fryer, ajc, 9 Sep. 2022 Boras hinted that Soto won’t entertain signing a contract extension until the situation is settled. Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2022 If Congress won’t entertain a ban on assault-style weapons, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) has a new idea: imposing a 1,000 percent tax on them. Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 This isn't to say the Grizzlies shouldn't entertain trade offers for their treasure of assets. Morten Jensen, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022 Parents have no real options for back-up care — such as a drop-in day care or a babysitter — when their child might be carrying COVID-19, especially as infants and toddlers cannot easily or safely entertain themselves. Alison Bowen, chicagotribune.com, 21 Jan. 2022 Teams will also remain isolated in the team hotel and cannot entertain visitors on the road. Peter Aitken, Fox News, 18 Dec. 2021 He was followed by Vermont Governor Phil Scott, who didn’t even entertain calls to get into his state’s newly open Senate race after the retirement of Senator Pat Leahy. James Pindell, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Dec. 2021 See More 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
Kids Definition
entertain
verb
en·ter·tain ˌen-tər-ˈtān
entertained; entertaining
1
: to host a social event
My parents entertain often.
2
: to have as a guest
entertain friends
3
: to perform for or provide amusement for
Comedians entertained the crowd.
4
: to have in mind
She entertained thoughts of quitting.
entertain
verb
1
as in to amuse
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied entertain the kids while I go and prepare dinner Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- amuse
- regale
- distract
- delight
- appease
- occupy
- divert
- solace
- please
- interest
- captivate
- enchant
- engross
- engage
- busy
- disport
- mesmerize
- enthral
- enthrall
- involve
- fascinate
- comfort
- intrigue
- hypnotize
- console
- immerse
- beguile
- bewitch
- indulge
- charm
- pleasure
- pamper
- placate
- gratify
- humor
- spoil
- soothe
- absorb
- content
- oblige
- pacify
- coddle
- mollify
- mollycoddle
- conciliate
- propitiate
- grip
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bore
- weary
- wear
- annoy
- drain
- exhaust
- harass
- aggravate
- bother
- disturb
- wear out
- upset
- fatigue
- tire
- exasperate
- pester
- enervate
- irk
- vex
- perturb
- bug
- jade
- pique
- fret
- harry
- grate
- chafe
- gall
- peeve
- nettle
2
as in to contemplate
to give serious and careful thought to have you ever entertained the thought that you could be wrong? Synonyms & Similar Words
- contemplate
- ponder
- consider
- debate
- explore
- question
- study
- weigh
- analyze
- eye
- ruminate
- cogitate
- deliberate
- chew on
- revolve
- review
- chew over
- meditate
- look at
- perpend
- turn
- digest
- kick around
- reminisce
- reason
- mull (over)
- believe
- wrestle (with)
- conclude
- conceive
- absorb
- opine
- assimilate
- beat one's brains out (about)
- think (about or over)
- pore (over)
- cudgel one's brains (about)
- muse (upon)
- second-guess
- reflect (on or upon)
- fixate (on or upon)
- dwell (on or upon)
- speculate (about)
- fret (about or over)
- obsess (about or over)
- brood (about or over)
- drink (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignore
- disregard
- slight
- overlook
- dismiss
- reject
- pooh
- pooh-pooh
3
as in to have
to keep in one's mind or heart I don't entertain the hope of ever getting a girl like that to go out with me Synonyms & Similar Words
- have
- hold
- retain
- cherish
- cultivate
- keep
- harbor
- nurture
- sustain
- maintain
- bear
- carry
- foster
- preserve
- remember
- support
- nurse
- hang on to
- hold on to
- treasure
- hug
- fixate (on or upon)
- cleave (to)
- stick (to)
- cling (to)
- obsess (about or over)
- brood (about or over)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- forget
- ignore
- refuse
- deny
- reject
- disregard
- overlook
- drop
- neglect
- abandon
- repudiate
- decline
- scorn
- quit
- forsake
- renounce
- discard
- give up
- disdain
- desert
- erase
- part (with)
- abjure
- throw out
- expunge
Synonym Chooser
The words amuse and divert are common synonyms of entertain. While all three words mean "to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly," entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods.
a magician entertaining children at a party
The words amuse and entertain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly.
amuse yourselves while I make dinner
The meanings of divert and entertain largely overlap; however, divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny.
a light comedy to divert the tired businessman
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- pseudogeneric name
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- pseudoglottis
- pseudograph
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- Pseudogryphus
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- pseudohalogen
- pseudohermaphrodites
- pseudohermaphroditisms
- pseudohexagonal