Word
entertaining
Phoneticsen·ter·tain·ing, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɛnɝˈteɪnɪŋ/
UK/ˌɛntətˈeɪnɪŋ/
Definitions
01amusing
B1 · Intermediate
adj. funny, interesting, or enjoyable to watch or listen to.
adj. providing amusement or enjoyment; engaging the attention in an agreeable manner.
日本語:面白い※
“The movie was very entertaining and kept the whole family laughing.”
“The speaker delivered an entertaining keynote address, successfully blending rigorous data with humorous anecdotes to maintain the audience's interest.”
02hosting guests
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. inviting people to your home and providing them with food and drink.
v. the act of receiving and providing hospitality to guests.
日本語:ご馳走する※
“They spend most of their weekends entertaining friends at their new house.”
“Entertaining high-profile clients requires a delicate balance of professional networking and genuine hospitality in a relaxed setting.”
Usage
Often used as a gerund or in continuous tenses.
03considering an idea
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. thinking about an idea or a suggestion seriously.
v. giving attention or consideration to an idea, suggestion, or feeling.
“The boss is entertaining the idea of letting us work from home.”
“The board is currently entertaining several merger proposals, though no official decision is expected until the next fiscal quarter.”
Usage
Usually takes a direct object representing a thought or proposal.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “entertaining” in context.
Verb
01. be entertaining the idea
“The board is currently entertaining the idea of expanding into the Asian market.”
verb + adj + noun
02. find the movie entertaining
“Most critics found the movie entertaining despite its predictable plot.”
verb + noun + adj
03. keep the children entertained
“We hired a clown to keep the children entertained during the party.”
verb + noun + adj
Adjective
04. entertaining to watch
“The street performers were very entertaining to watch.”
adj + infinitive
05. highly entertaining
“His latest novel is a highly entertaining read for the summer holidays.”
adv + adj
06. thoroughly entertaining
“The performance was thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. entertaining guests
“She spends a lot of time entertaining guests at her country house.”
adj + noun
08. entertaining speaker
“The keynote was an entertaining speaker who used humor to make his points.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“The singing is actually a weak link in what is otherwise an unexpectedly entertaining film, with better than average animation and plenty of PG-approved sword-and-sandal battles.” “Has any side ever managed to start a season in a less entertaining manner than this?” asks Richard Wilson.” Etymology
From entertain + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/entertaining
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0