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.
"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
The bond market and the Fed have shifted over the past six months from entertaining rate cuts to debating rate increases.
From The Wall Street Journal • 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
Reviews were mostly positive about his first effort, with Deadline calling it a "wonderfully atmospheric, nostalgic and entertaining contemporary noir".
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
It was all very entertaining, except for the fact that I was thinking about Something Else.
From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
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.
