Synonyms for entertain
ˌɛn tərˈteɪnen·ter·tain

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.5 / 2 votes

1. entertain

   To entertain, in the sense here considered, is to engage and pleasantly occupy the attention; to amuse is to occupy the attention in an especially bright and cheerful way, often with that which excites merriment or laughter; as, he entertained us with an amusing story. To divert is to turn from serious thoughts or laborious pursuits to something that lightly and agreeably occupies the mind; one may be entertained or amused who has nothing serious or laborious from which to be diverted. To recreate, literally to re-create, is to engage mind or body in some pleasing activity that restores strength and energy for serious work. To beguile is, as it were, to cheat into cheer and comfort by something that insensibly draws thought or feeling away from pain or disquiet. We beguile a weary hour, cheer the despondent, divert the preoccupied, enliven a dull evening or company, gratify our friends' wishes, entertain, interest, please a listening audience, occupy idle time, disport ourselves when merry, recreate when worn with toil; we amuse ourselves or others with whatever pleasantly passes the time without special exertion, each according to his taste.

   Synonyms:
   amuse, beguile, cheer, delight, disport, divert, enliven, gratify, interest, occupy, please, recreate

   Antonyms:
   annoy, bore, busy, disquiet, distract, disturb, tire, weary

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. entertain

   Synonyms:
   harbor, maintain, conceive, foster, receive, recreate, amuse

   Antonyms:
   eject, exclude, deny, debar, annoy, weary, bore, tire

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. entertainverb

   provide entertainment for

   Synonyms:
   flirt with, think about, nurse, harbour, toy with, hold, think of, harbor

2. entertain, think of, toy with, flirt with, think aboutverb

   take into consideration, have in view

   "He entertained the notion of moving to South America"

   Synonyms:
   dream up, mean, harbour, concoct, think about, repute, esteem, hold, hatch, remember, think up, harbor, have in mind, regard as, flirt with, look on, toy with, nurse, look upon, think of, take to be

3. harbor, harbour, hold, entertain, nurseverb

   maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

   "bear a grudge"; "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment"

   Synonyms:
   accommodate, book, retain, moderate, view as, support, apply, hold back, harbour, defend, take hold, bind, suck, deem, hold up, toy with, arrest, breastfeed, take, have, concord, think about, check, make, take for, go for, throw, defy, control, harbor, keep, suckle, obligate, carry, give, adjudge, nurse, oblige, curb, hold, lactate, confine, have got, restrain, wet-nurse, withstand, agree, hold in, flirt with, halt, contain, think of, concur, maintain, guard, shield, keep back, sustain, prevail, reserve, admit, obtain, declare, give suck, bear

Matched Categories

1. • Contemplate
   • Feel
   • Socialize

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. entertainverb

   Synonyms:
   lodge, treat hospitably, show hospitality to, receive as a guest

2. entertainverb

   Synonyms:
   feed, maintain, support

3. entertainverb

   Synonyms:
   hold, cherish, harbor

4. entertainverb

   Synonyms:
   take into consideration

5. entertainverb

   Synonyms:
   divert, amuse, please

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. entertainverb

   Synonyms:
   divert, amuse, please, junket, beguile, cheer, harbor, hold, lodge

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "entertain":

   amuse, distract, entertaining, hear

How to pronounce entertain?

How to say entertain in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use entertain in a sentence?

1. Michael Wittner at Societe Generale:

   There seems to be a softening of the position by Russia and Iraq, so they may be willing to entertain the notion, but Iran seems to be holding to their line that they want to increase as they come back from sanctions.

2. Dolly Parton:

   As a songwriter, I have always enjoyed telling stories through my music, i am thrilled to be bringing some of my favorite songs to life with Netflix. We hope our show will inspire and entertain families and folks of all generations.

3. Marcus Aelius Aurelius:

   The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.

4. Demosthenes:

   It is impossible for those who are engaged in low and grovelling pursuits to entertain noble and generous sentiments. Their thoughts must always necessarily be somewhat similar to their employments.

5. Marjorie Dannenfelser:

   I would ask Sarah Palin to take a look at who Trump has said he might have as his VP. Scott Brown is absolutely unacceptable to the pro-life movement and should be unacceptable to her, she should not endorse a candidate that would entertain a pro-choice vice president. That's my view.