entertaining

American

[en-ter-tey-ning] / ˌɛn tərˈteɪ nɪŋ /

adjective

affording entertainment; amusing; diverting.

We spent an entertaining evening at the theater.

entertaining British

/ ˌɛntəˈteɪnɪŋ /

adjective

serving to entertain or give pleasure; diverting; amusing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of entertaining

First recorded in 1615–25; entertain + -ing ²

Explanation

Things that are entertaining are enjoyable and distracting. Going to the circus is an entertaining way to spend an afternoon. Activities like playing games and watching movies can be entertaining, and you can also describe a friend who's particularly funny or fun to be with as entertaining. The adjective comes from the related verb, entertain, which meant "keep up, maintain, or keep someone in a certain frame of mind" in the fifteenth century. It comes from the Old French entretenir, "hold together."

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

entertaining

Upon entering the home, guests are greeted with classic Hamptons charm and modern luxury, offering vaulted ceilings, five fireplaces, a sunken living room, formal dining room, and an expansive chef’s kitchen designed for entertaining.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

I had also recently waxed poetic about compound butter during a live discussion on summer entertaining.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

An amazing and entertaining autobiography, it demonstrates that no matter which market you invest in, finding your own style that matches your personality and psychology will lead to the best results.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026