# entertain

/ˌɛnɝˈteɪn/ (US) · /ˌɛntətˈeɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/entertain
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to amuse

verb · CEFR B1

to keep someone interested and happy by performing or telling stories.

For teachers: to provide amusement or enjoyment to an audience through performance or storytelling.

- The magician entertained the children with clever card tricks for an hour.
- The street performer successfully entertained the passing crowds with a sophisticated blend of physical comedy and live music.

### 2. to host guests

verb · CEFR B2

to have people at your home for a meal, a party, or a visit.

For teachers: to receive and provide hospitality for guests, typically in a domestic or professional social setting.

- They love to entertain friends with big dinners on the weekend.
- The ambassador frequently entertains foreign dignitaries at his private residence to foster better diplomatic relations.

### 3. to consider an idea

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to think about an idea, a suggestion, or a feeling.

For teachers: to give serious thought or consideration to a proposal, idea, or feeling.

- The boss refused to entertain the idea of working on Sundays.
- The board of directors declined to entertain the merger proposal, citing significant concerns regarding the long-term stability of the partner firm.

### 4. to help a customer

verb · CEFR B2 · Dialect

to help or assist a person, especially in a shop or on the phone.

For teachers: to attend to or assist a customer or visitor; common in specific regional varieties of English.

- The clerk will entertain your questions once she finishes with this customer.
- The receptionist was busy entertaining several phone enquiries simultaneously while also managing the queue at the front desk.

Usage: Common in Indian, Malaysian, and Philippine English.

## Examples

- The magician knows how to entertain a large crowd.
- The company often uses the private box at the stadium to entertain important clients during the football season.
- While the board was willing to entertain the possibility of a merger, they remained skeptical about the long-term cultural fit between the two organizations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.