# entertaining

/ˌɛnɝˈteɪnɪŋ/ (US) · /ˌɛntətˈeɪnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/entertaining
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. amusing

adjective · CEFR B1

funny, interesting, or enjoyable to watch or listen to.

For teachers: providing amusement or enjoyment; engaging the attention in an agreeable manner.

- 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.

### 2. hosting guests

verb · CEFR B2

inviting people to your home and providing them with food and drink.

For teachers: the act of receiving and providing hospitality to guests.

- 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.

### 3. considering an idea

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

thinking about an idea or a suggestion seriously.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The committee is entertaining the idea of a shorter work week.
- The board refused to even begin entertaining the possibility of a merger until the stock price stabilized.
- While the philosopher was known for entertaining radical theories in his private journals, his public lectures remained strictly traditional and focused on established historical facts.

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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.