- 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.
Mr. McMullan is an effective antidote to the more bilious goings on—the acting is much more flamboyant in the Atticus story than in Susan’s, which is less entertaining than distracting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
The property is “surrounded by lush gardens and features a sparkling pool and spa, creating an idyllic setting for both entertaining and everyday living.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
It will stop becoming entertaining when every survivor has to wear SPF sunscreen rated at least 1,000 just to take out the trash.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026
He’s up to 25 players and hoping the Gerhardt brothers will continue to be entertaining in games and in huddles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
His favorite companion on these tours was Mercury, the most entertaining of all the gods, the shrewdest and the most resourceful.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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.
