- present participle of entertain.
entertaining
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of entertaining
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."
Vocabulary lists containing entertaining
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.
New York courts sealed legal documents pertaining to Williams’ guardianship proceedings, but Morrissey’s role became public knowledge in February 2024 amid the premiere of the Lifetime docuseries “Where Is Wendy Williams?”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2025
After Albert’s resignation, federal prosecutors subpoenaed the Housing Authority for documents pertaining to Moya’s contract.
From Washington Post • Dec. 18, 2022
Her subpoena sought documents pertaining to his annual financial statements, development projects, and even communications with Forbes magazine, where he sought to burnish his image as a wealthy businessperson.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2022
For the N.F.L., the agreement ensures that a public rendering won’t happen and keeps private the juicy details of league business contained in the many documents pertaining to the lawsuit.
From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2021
And he indelicately waved his hand toward the documents pertaining to the Cedric Company.
From T. Tembarom by Burnett, Frances Hodgson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
