- 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 extensively engineered retaining wall and thoughtful landscaping transformed the property into a series of expansive outdoor living spaces designed for entertaining, decompressing, and fully embracing the indoor-outdoor lifestyle.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Roma being back in the Champions League is great and they're a very entertaining team to watch again.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
That said, “Nary a Horse Left Standing” is an entertaining book that should have wide appeal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
“All these Black artists are getting to tell stories in a way that is entertaining and benefiting us in cultural ways,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
“Will you be entertaining much at Manderley, Mrs. de Winter?”
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
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.
