Definitions for entertain
ˌɛn tərˈteɪnen·ter·tain

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. entertainverb

   provide entertainment for

2. entertain, think of, toy with, flirt with, think aboutverb

   take into consideration, have in view

   "He entertained the notion of moving to South America"

3. harbor, harbour, hold, entertain, nurseverb

   maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

   "bear a grudge"; "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. entertainverb

   To amuse (someone); .

   The motivational speaker not only instructed but also entertained the audience.

2. entertainverb

   To have someone over at one's home for a party or visit.

   They enjoy entertaining a lot.

3. entertainverb

   To have a thought in mind.

   The committee would like to entertain the idea of reducing the budget figures.

4. Etymology: From entretenir, from entre + tenir, from inter + teneo. For the noun, compare entretien.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To ENTERTAINverb

   Etymology: entretenir, French.

   1. To converse with; to talk with.

   His head was so well stored a magazine, that nothing could be proposed which he was not readily furnished to entertain any one in. John Locke.

   2. To treat at the table.

   You shall find an apartment fitted up for you, and shall be every day entertained with beef or mutton of my own feeding. Joseph Addison, Spectator, №. 549.

   3. To receive hospitably.

   Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Heb. iii. 2.

   Heav’n, set ope thy everlasting gates,
   To entertain my vows of thanks and praise. William Shakespeare, Hen. VI.

   4. To keep in one’s service.

   How many men would you require to the furnishing of this which you take in hand? And how long space would you have them entertained? Edmund Spenser, Ireland.

   You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred; only, I do not like the fashion of your garments. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   I’ll weep and sigh,
   And, leaving so his service, follow you,
   So please you entertain me. William Shakespeare, Cymbeline.

   5. To reserve in the mind.

   This is the severest purpose God can entertain towards us. Decay of Piety.

   6. To please; to amuse; to divert.

   David entertained himself with the meditations of God’s law, not his hidden decrees or counsels. Decay of Piety.

   The history of the Royal Society shews how well philosophy becometh a narration: the progress of knowledge is as entertaining as that of arms. Henry Felton, on the Classicks.

   They were capable of entertaining themselves on a thousand different subjects, without running into the common topicks. Joseph Addison, on Ancient Medals.

   In gardens, art can only reduce the beauties of nature to a figure which the common eye may better take in, and is therefore more entertained with. Alexander Pope, Iliads. Pref. to the.

   7. To admit with satisfaction.

   Reason can never permit the mind to entertain probability, in opposition to knowledge and certainty. John Locke.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. entertain

   Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have developed over thousands of years specifically for the purpose of keeping an audience's attention. Although people's attention is held by different things because individuals have different preferences, most forms of entertainment are recognisable and familiar. Storytelling, music, drama, dance, and different kinds of performance exist in all cultures and were supported in royal courts and developed into sophisticated forms, over time becoming available to all citizens. The process has been accelerated in modern times by an entertainment industry that records and sells entertainment products. Entertainment evolves and can be adapted to suit any scale, ranging from an individual who chooses a private entertainment from a now enormous array of pre-recorded products; to a banquet adapted for two; to any size or type of party, with appropriate music and dance; to performances intended for thousands; and even for a global audience. The experience of being entertained has come to be strongly associated with amusement, so that one common understanding of the idea is fun and laughter, although many entertainments have a serious purpose. This may be the case in the various forms of ceremony, celebration, religious festival, or satire for example. Hence, there is the possibility that what appears as entertainment may also be a means of achieving insight or intellectual growth. An important aspect of entertainment is the audience, which turns a private recreation or leisure activity into entertainment. The audience may have a passive role, as in the case of persons watching a play, opera, television show, or film; or the audience role may be active, as in the case of games, where the participant/audience roles may be routinely reversed. Entertainment can be public or private, involving formal, scripted performance, as in the case of theatre or concerts; or unscripted and spontaneous, as in the case of children's games. Most forms of entertainment have persisted over many centuries, evolving due to changes in culture, technology, and fashion for example with stage magic. Films and video games, for example, although they use newer media, continue to tell stories, present drama, and play music. Festivals devoted to music, film, or dance allow audiences to be entertained over a number of consecutive days. Some entertainment, such as public executions, are now illegal in most countries. Activities such as fencing or archery, once used in hunting or war, have become spectator sports. In the same way, other activities, such as cooking, have developed into performances among professionals, staged as global competitions and then broadcast for entertainment. What is entertainment for one group or individual may be regarded as work or an act of cruelty by another. The familiar forms of entertainment have the capacity to cross over different media and have demonstrated a seemingly unlimited potential for creative remix. This has ensured the continuity and longevity of many themes, images, and structures.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. entertain

   To entertain means to provide enjoyment, amusement or pleasure to someone, often through various forms of media like music, film, theater, sports etc. It can also mean to hold or maintain in the mind or consider something, as in entertaining an idea or thoughts. Alternatively, it can refer to receiving or hosting guests or visitors hospitably.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Entertainverb

   to be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep

2. Entertainverb

   to give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to receive at one's board, or into one's house; to receive as a guest

3. Entertainverb

   to engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that which makes the time pass pleasantly; to divert; as, to entertain friends with conversation, etc

4. Entertainverb

   to give reception to; to receive, in general; to receive and take into consideration; to admit, treat, or make use of; as, to entertain a proposal

5. Entertainverb

   to meet or encounter, as an enemy

6. Entertainverb

   to keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor; to keep in the mind; to harbor; to cherish; as, to entertain sentiments

7. Entertainverb

   to lead on; to bring along; to introduce

8. Entertainverb

   to receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he entertains generously

9. Entertainnoun

   entertainment

10. Etymology: [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Entertain

   en-tėr-tān′, v.t. to receive and treat hospitably: to hold the attention of and amuse by conversation: to amuse: to receive and take into consideration: to keep or hold in the mind: to harbour.—n. Entertain′er.—p.adj. Entertain′ing, affording entertainment: amusing.—adv. Entertain′ingly.—n. Entertain′ment, act of entertaining: hospitality at table: that which entertains: the provisions of the table: a banquet: amusement: a performance which delights. [Fr. entretenir—L. inter, among, tenēre, to hold.]

Matched Categories

1. • Contemplate
   • Feel
   • Socialize

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'entertain' in Verbs Frequency: #913

Anagrams for entertain »

1. Tarentine

2. terentian

How to pronounce entertain?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say entertain in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of entertain in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of entertain in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of entertain in a Sentence

1. Jeff Dumas:

   That's what you have to worry about -- what's in it for him? we will see if this guy is narcissistic, if he has that type of ego that he wants to display everything that he's done and actually tell the truth, or if he's going to mislead investigators and just play a game to entertain himself while he's locked in.

2. Kim Wyman:

   Let's face it, right now Democrats could not entertain the idea that they could lose in November, and Republicans can't entertain the idea that they could lose in November, we have to convince the losing side that it was a fair and accurate election. That's how high the stakes are, and that's what election officials are doing to make sure that people believe the results at the end of November.

3. Marjorie Dannenfelser:

   I would ask Sarah Palin to take a look at who Trump has said he might have as his VP. Scott Brown is absolutely unacceptable to the pro-life movement and should be unacceptable to her, she should not endorse a candidate that would entertain a pro-choice vice president. That's my view.

4. Sanaa Lathan:

   We hope to entertain and get people's hearts and minds open to have more compassion and empathy for others, shots Fired.

5. Sam Bolle:

   Dick Dale taught me to live your life the way you want to live it. Dick Dale definitely did Dick Dale with vigor and ferociousness of spirit, i'm so happy and stoked that Dick Dale was able to entertain and bring joy to people's lives as long as Dick Dale did.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=entertain
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Entertain
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=entertain
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertain
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entertain
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=entertain