- 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.
The result was the whimsical, entertaining and perhaps persuasive tutorial one would expect from this trio, with laughs aplenty peppering Tyson’s scientific explanations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026
There’s no shortage of lounge space, with multiple entertaining spaces spread among the area’s various decks and patios, and fire features and outdoors amenities to be enjoyed.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 9, 2026
“That entertainment can be entertaining and has the capacity to do that,” he told the Journal, “is something that I think we have to be very proud of.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
The home offers several of entertaining spaces, including a game room with a pool table and a movie theater room.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026
“Certainly. For now. But you of all people should realize how thin the line is between the truth and a compelling lie. Between history and an entertaining story.”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
