to entertain

Examples

• All

• Well, someone has to entertain us all.

  Saltburn (2023)

• And I am all for things to entertain my toddler.

  Zoe Sugg

• So I start looking around for ways to entertain myself.

  The Try Guys

• I'm there to entertain a lot of people.

  Terry Stone Connection

• However, if you would like to entertain me with a story, I'm eager to hear it.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Confined indoors and left to their own devices, children entertain themselves by playing video games and watching television.

  Academic text (2013)

• Maybe I just want to stay home and be entertained by my husband's wonderful students.

  Fiction book (1991)

• We'd like to entertain our friend with some nourishing food.

• The focus here is on story narrations that entertain and please the listener.

  Academic text (1991)

• The performers worked hard to entertain the audience with their incredible magic show.

Synonyms

P

to perform

vsto entertain

583 2.7

To entertain people by singing, acting, or dancing

provides amusement in many forms, not only through staged presentations

A

to amuse

vsto entertain

153 1.4

To make someone laugh or enjoy themselves

focuses more broadly on giving amusement or general enjoyment rather than just laughter

D

to divert

vsto entertain

41 4.7

To keep someone pleasantly occupied by giving them something fun

is about providing amusement or enjoyment more broadly than merely occupying someone

S

to show (someone) a good time

vsto entertain

• Informal

20 3.0

To make someone enjoy themselves, for example when they visit

means to provide amusement in general rather than specifically organising an outing

R

to regale

vsto entertain

14 7.7

To entertain someone with stories, jokes or a large meal

gives enjoyment generally but without the special storytelling or lavish element

H

to hold court

vsto entertain

6 7.4

To get people to listen and enjoy what you say

aims to give amusement generally, not only by talking to a crowd

B

to bring the fun

vsto entertain

• Informal

1 5.3

To make a party or event lively and enjoyable for people

provides amusement more generally rather than actively creating the party mood

B

to bring on the fun

vsto entertain

• Informal

1 3.6

To make people start having fun at a party or event

means to give enjoyment broadly rather than specifically initiating the fun

K

to keep entertained

vsto entertain

3.2

Make someone feel interested or amused for a while

provides enjoyment but does not require sustained attention over time

G

to get a crowd going

vsto entertain

• Informal

4.8

Make an audience feel excited and cheer

provides enjoyment broadly but does not always involve energising a group

Antonyms

B

to bore

15 1.4

To make someone feel tired or not interested by being dull when you speak

How Entertaining

to thrill

201 2.1

to engross

17 5.8

to captivate

19 4.2

delight

184 1.2

to entertain

226 2.0

to amuse

153 1.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology