entertainment

[en-ter-teyn-muh nt]

See more synonyms for entertainment on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of entertaining; agreeable occupation for the mind; diversion; amusement: Solving the daily crossword puzzle is an entertainment for many.
something affording pleasure, diversion, or amusement, especially a performance of some kind: The highlight of the ball was an elaborate entertainment.
hospitable provision for the needs and wants of guests.

a divertingly adventurous, comic, or picaresque novel.
Obsolete. maintenance in service.

Origin of entertainment

First recorded in 1525–35; entertain + -ment

Related formsnon·en·ter·tain·ment, noun, adjectivepre·en·ter·tain·ment, nounself-en·ter·tain·ment, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for entertainment

picnic, satisfaction, gaiety, pastime, sport, celebration, treat, party, frolic, play, ball, merrymaking, enjoyment, surprise, recreation, delight, game, relaxation, dissipation, spree

Examples from the Web for entertainment

Contemporary Examples of entertainment

Beyoncé has, for close to a decade now, been a deity in entertainment: untouchable, successful, divine.
Bow Down, Bitches: How Beyoncé Turned an Elevator Brawl Into a Perfect Year
Kevin Fallon
December 31, 2014
Brad Rutter is trying to turn his trivia fame into entertainment.
From Socially Isolated Nerd to Jeopardy! Bad Boy: A Thank You Note
Arthur Chu
November 27, 2014
Billboard and Entertainment Weekly similarly praised it upon the anniversary.
When the Religious Right Attacked ‘The Little Mermaid’
Asawin Suebsaeng
November 20, 2014
It took a lot to make the public and entertainment industry remember the allegations against Dr. Huxtable.
It’s Not Just Cosby: Hollywood’s Long List of Male Scumbags
Asawin Suebsaeng
November 19, 2014
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Heigl talked about the press event where she was asked about her difficult behavior.
It’s Time to Stop Hating Katherine Heigl
Kevin Fallon
November 17, 2014

Historical Examples of entertainment

The roads are empty, the fields are deserted, the houses of entertainment are closed.
Sunday under Three Heads
Charles Dickens
There is a penalty for keeping open, houses of entertainment.
Sunday under Three Heads
Charles Dickens
He engaged me by the six months, and my entertainment was generous.
To be Read at Dusk
Charles Dickens
The only thing he thinks of that he can do to help is to give them an evening's entertainment.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
She had always lived with children, and constantly had their entertainment in her mind.
Rico and Wiseli
Johanna Spyri

British Dictionary definitions for entertainment

entertainment

noun

the act or art of entertaining or state of being entertained
an act, production, etc, that entertains; diversion; amusement

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 entertainment

1530s, "provision for support of a retainer; manner of social behavior," now obsolete, along with other 16c. senses; from entertain + -ment. Meaning "the amusement of someone" is from 1610s; "that which entertains" is from 1650s; "public performance or display meant to amuse" is from 1727.