- 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.
A formal dining room, paneled bar, spacious kitchen with a fireplace, and butler’s pantry make entertaining a breeze.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
Sometimes, it’s the little bites that make the biggest impression when entertaining.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
This entertaining three-part docuseries follows a Tennessee high-school class as they investigate a series of unsolved crimes from the 1980s known as the Redhead Murders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Smart, entertaining and surprising, they offer reassurance that adventurous playwriting is not only alive and well but branching out into uncharted territory.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
She'd heard their excuse—different versions of it—time and time again, but they were always so entertaining that she was game to hear it once more.
From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds
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.
