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 an email, Cohen, the Bravo host, described the Culture Awards as “the only entertaining award show” left on TV.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
Calderstones pupil Ben described the friends as "really entertaining" and "a good advert for enjoying yourself and finding new things to do".
From BBC • May 24, 2026
With so many incredible features on offer, it’s no surprise that the home was designed for grand-scale entertaining, complete with a seven-car garage that makes it easy to host company, including overnight guests.
From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026
Late-night comedy has a long history of offering Americans valuable political critique wrapped in ironic and entertaining wit.
From Salon • May 19, 2026
While we were entertaining ourselves with the light switch, Mama turned a knob in a white tub.
From "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina" by Michaela DePrince
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.
