Entertain
What it means
To hold someone's interest or give them pleasure and amusement.
Reach for it when describing an activity intended to engage and delight an audience
Three local storytellers entertain passengers during the winter ferry delay.
Words to choose between 7
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday |
|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
keep them hooked
Fits when sustained attention can be described casually
Careful The phrase sounds manipulative and is unsuitable for respectful cultural work.
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everyday
Fits when laughter or light pleasure is the main effect
Careful Amusement is narrower and need not hold sustained attention.
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warm
Fits when giving marked pleasure is the purpose
Careful Delight is a stronger emotional result than ordinary entertainment.
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professional
engage
Fits when active interest matters more than fun
Careful Engagement can be demanding or serious and does not promise enjoyment.
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professional
perform for
Fits when the act and audience relationship should be literal
Careful Performance can challenge or unsettle rather than entertain.
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formal
divert
Fits when attention is pleasantly turned away from concern
Careful Divert can imply distraction and does not suit meaningful, absorbing art.
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literary
Fits when stories or hospitality lavishly entertain guests
Careful Regale is elevated, often humorous, and too specific for most performances.
Opposites 4
- bore
- tire
- repel
- ignore
Common phrases 3
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entertain guests
A student quartet will entertain guests before dinner.
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entertain an audience
The puppeteers entertain an audience without using spoken language.
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aim to entertain
The short films aim to entertain while preserving local stories.
Word family 1
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, California accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated