- 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.
Upon entering the dwelling, guests are greeted with classic Hamptons charm and modern luxury, offering vaulted ceilings, five fireplaces, a sunken living room, formal dining room, and an expansive chef’s kitchen designed for entertaining.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 23, 2026
One of the most brilliant aspects of “Maddie’s Secret” is that one needn’t be familiar with TV movies to find Early’s film funny or entertaining.
From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026
A week earlier, Iran had opened its campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw against New Zealand, a result that left qualification hopes alive but increased the importance of the Belgium match.
From Barron's • Jun. 21, 2026
Thoroughly good-natured, entertaining and occasionally suggestive of “Jackass” in a batting helmet, “Return of the Clowns” will be preceded by a Clowns-Bananas game from Cincinnati at 7 p.m.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026
Music is sound that's organized by people on purpose, to dance to, to tell a story, to make other people feel a certain way, or just to sound pretty or be entertaining.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
