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.
In a stark contrast to Coppins’ message, the Atlantic’s editors appeared to treat the endeavor as an entertaining, lighthearted stunt.
From Slate • May 5, 2026
In contrast, Hossein Vafaei and Wu Yize are level at 4-4 after an entertaining start to their best-of-25 encounter.
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026
It’s made for a lot of people to be here and for entertaining, and we use it well.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
Joe Pappalardo takes the frenzied and colorful spectacle of Borger’s early years as the subject of his entertaining but uneven book, which shares a title with Benton’s painting.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
I knew she had a thing about my block, so the fact that she was even entertaining this idea of coming over was good enough for me.
From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds
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.
