Entertain
v.joyful, energeticeveryday
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.
Choose between these
7- playful
keep them hooked
when sustained attention can be described casually
not when The phrase sounds manipulative and is unsuitable for respectful cultural work.
- everyday
when laughter or light pleasure is the main effect
not when Amusement is narrower and need not hold sustained attention.
- warm
when giving marked pleasure is the purpose
not when Delight is a stronger emotional result than ordinary entertainment.
- professional
engage
when active interest matters more than fun
not when Engagement can be demanding or serious and does not promise enjoyment.
- professional
perform for
when the act and audience relationship should be literal
not when Performance can challenge or unsettle rather than entertain.
- formal
divert
when attention is pleasantly turned away from concern
not when Divert can imply distraction and does not suit meaningful, absorbing art.
- literary
when stories or hospitality lavishly entertain guests
not when Regale is elevated, often humorous, and too specific for most performances.
Said against
4- bore
- tire
- repel
- ignore
It naturally appears in
3- entertain guests
A student quartet will entertain guests before dinner.
- entertain an audience
The puppeteers entertain an audience without using spoken language.
- aim to entertain
The short films aim to entertain while preserving local stories.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English verb, verb sense meaning to amuse or provide enjoyment opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.