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.
Whether Warsh can slow the committee’s drift toward entertaining tighter policy—and whether he even wants to—is far from clear, Lavorgna said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
"I'm really resistant to the idea of writing a trauma novel. I want something that is fun and entertaining."
From BBC • May 22, 2026
It’s always entertaining to watch Duncan go down that thing.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 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
Schindler kept to his usual schedule, entertaining until the early morning hours and then making his rounds in the factory.
From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson
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.
