- 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 60-foot lap pool includes a heated spa, and the area is perfectly primed for entertaining with multiple fire features, a built-in barbecue, and lots of space to lounge.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
Its combination of contemporary finishes, expansive entertaining spaces, and outdoor amenities also makes it a distinctive offering in Charlotte’s luxury residential market.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
Declan Rice scores a late equaliser as Arsenal and Bayern Munich play out an entertaining draw in the league phase of the Champions League while Bukayo Saka limps off with an early injury.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
Noah Reid and Carrie-Anne Moss star in an ambiguous but entertaining eight-part series that draws on the Slavic myth of Baba Yaga.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
The science-fiction writer and archaeology buff Robert Silverberg devoted an entire entertaining book to the back-and-forth over the origin of the mounds, which intermittently preoccupied American intellectuals for a century.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
