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entertaining

[en-ter-tey-ning]
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adjective
  1. affording entertainment; amusing; diverting: We spent an entertaining evening at the theater.
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Origin of entertaining

First recorded in 1615–25; entertain + -ing2
Related formsen·ter·tain·ing·ly, adverbnon·en·ter·tain·ing, adjectivequa·si-en·ter·tain·ing, adjectiveself-en·ter·tain·ing, adjectiveun·en·ter·tain·ing, adjectiveun·en·ter·tain·ing·ly, adverb

entertain

[en-ter-teyn]
verb (used with object)
  1. to hold the attention of pleasantly or agreeably; divert; amuse.
  2. to have as a guest; provide food, lodging, etc., for; show hospitality to.
  3. to admit into the mind; consider: He never entertained such ideas.
  4. to hold in the mind; harbor; cherish: They secretly entertained thoughts of revenge.
  5. Archaic. to maintain or keep up.
  6. Obsolete. to give admittance or reception to; receive.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to exercise hospitality; entertain company; provide entertainment for guests: They loved to talk, dance, and entertain.
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Origin of entertain

1425–75; late Middle English entertenen to hold mutually < Middle French entretenir ≪ Vulgar Latin *intertenēre, equivalent to Latin inter- inter- + tenēre to hold
Related formso·ver·en·ter·tained, adjectivepre·en·ter·tain, verb (used with object)un·en·ter·tained, adjectivewell-en·ter·tained, adjective

Synonyms

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1. beguile, regale.

Synonym study

1. See amuse.

Antonyms

1. bore. 3. reject.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

provocativefascinatinghumorousenjoyablelivelydivertingfunnyinspiringthrillinginterestingabsorbingcompellingaffectingenticingcharmingpleasantpoignantmovingexcitingengaging

Examples from the Web for entertaining

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The wine account—there is one, but it ought to be Mrs. Whitney's; for entertaining.

  • I find the study of electricity so entertaining that I am apt to neglect my other work.'

  • I have very strong reasons indeed, for entertaining that wish.

    Little Dorrit

    Charles Dickens

  • Naturally he will be asked about everywhere, and there'll be loads of entertaining to do in return.

    Ruggles of Red Gap

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • Their manner of entertaining their guests is familiar and kind.

British Dictionary definitions for entertaining

entertaining

adjective
  1. serving to entertain or give pleasure; diverting; amusing
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Derived Formsentertainingly, adverb

entertain

verb
  1. to provide amusement for (a person or audience)
  2. to show hospitality to (guests)
  3. (tr) to hold in the mindto entertain an idea
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Word Origin

C15: from Old French entretenir, from entre- mutually + tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre
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

Word Origin and History for entertaining

entertain

v.

late 15c., "to keep up, maintain, to keep (someone) in a certain frame of mind," from Middle French entretenir (12c.), from Old French entretenir "hold together, stick together, support," from entre- "among" (from Latin inter; see inter-) + tenir "to hold" (from Latin tenere; see tenet).

Sense of "have a guest" is late 15c.; that of "amuse" is 1620s. Meaning "to allow (something) to consideration" (of opinions, notions, etc.) is 1610s. Related: Entertained; entertaining.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper