Meaning of "entertain" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD ENTERTAIN

From Old French entretenir, from entre- mutually + tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF ENTERTAIN

entertain  [ˌɛntəˈteɪn]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF ENTERTAIN

Entertain is a verb.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb entertain in English.

WHAT DOES ENTERTAIN MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Entertainment

Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience, or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have developed over thousands of years specifically for the purpose of keeping an audience's attention. Although people's attention is held by different things, because individuals have different preferences in entertainment, most forms are recognisable and familiar. Storytelling, music, drama, dance, and different kinds of performance exist in all cultures, were supported in royal courts, developed into sophisticated forms and over time became available to all citizens. The process has been accelerated in modern times by an entertainment industry which records and sells entertainment products. Entertainment evolves and can be adapted to suit any scale, ranging from an individual who chooses a private entertainment from a now enormous array of pre-recorded products; to a banquet adapted for two; to any size or type of party, with appropriate music and dance; to performances intended for thousands; and even for a global audience.

Definition of entertain in the English dictionary

The first definition of entertain in the dictionary is to provide amusement for. Other definition of entertain is to show hospitality to. Entertain is also to hold in the mind.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO ENTERTAIN

PRESENT

Present

I entertain

you entertain

he/she/it entertains

we entertain

you entertain

they entertain

Present continuous

I am entertaining

you are entertaining

he/she/it is entertaining

we are entertaining

you are entertaining

they are entertaining

Present perfect

I have entertained

you have entertained

he/she/it has entertained

we have entertained

you have entertained

they have entertained

Present perfect continuous

I have been entertaining

you have been entertaining

he/she/it has been entertaining

we have been entertaining

you have been entertaining

they have been entertaining

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I entertained

you entertained

he/she/it entertained

we entertained

you entertained

they entertained

Past continuous

I was entertaining

you were entertaining

he/she/it was entertaining

we were entertaining

you were entertaining

they were entertaining

Past perfect

I had entertained

you had entertained

he/she/it had entertained

we had entertained

you had entertained

they had entertained

Past perfect continuous

I had been entertaining

you had been entertaining

he/she/it had been entertaining

we had been entertaining

you had been entertaining

they had been entertaining

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will entertain

you will entertain

he/she/it will entertain

we will entertain

you will entertain

they will entertain

Future continuous

I will be entertaining

you will be entertaining

he/she/it will be entertaining

we will be entertaining

you will be entertaining

they will be entertaining

Future perfect

I will have entertained

you will have entertained

he/she/it will have entertained

we will have entertained

you will have entertained

they will have entertained

Future perfect continuous

I will have been entertaining

you will have been entertaining

he/she/it will have been entertaining

we will have been entertaining

you will have been entertaining

they will have been entertaining

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would entertain

you would entertain

he/she/it would entertain

we would entertain

you would entertain

they would entertain

Conditional continuous

I would be entertaining

you would be entertaining

he/she/it would be entertaining

we would be entertaining

you would be entertaining

they would be entertaining

Conditional perfect

I would have entertain

you would have entertain

he/she/it would have entertain

we would have entertain

you would have entertain

they would have entertain

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been entertaining

you would have been entertaining

he/she/it would have been entertaining

we would have been entertaining

you would have been entertaining

they would have been entertaining

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you entertain
we let´s entertain
you entertain

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to entertain

Past participle

entertained

Present Participle

entertaining

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «ENTERTAIN»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «entertain» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of entertain

accommodate · amuse · charm · cheer · cherish · consider · contemplate · delight · divert · enthral · foster · harbour · hold · imagine · interest · lodge · maintain · occupy · please · ponder · put up · receive · recreate · regale · support · think over · treat

TRANSLATION OF ENTERTAIN

Find out the translation of entertain to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of entertain from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «entertain» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 娱乐
• Translator English - Spanish: entretener
• English: entertain
• Translator English - Hindi: मनोरंजन
• Translator English - Arabic: يُسَلِّي
• Translator English - Russian: развлекать
• Translator English - Portuguese: entreter
• Translator English - Bengali: পোষণ করা
• Translator English - French: amuser
• Translator English - Malay: Menghiburkan
• Translator English - German: unterhalten
• Translator English - Japanese: 楽しませる
• Translator English - Korean: 대접하다
• Translator English - Javanese: Nyenengake
• Translator English - Vietnamese: giải trí
• Translator English - Tamil: மகிழ்விக்க
• Translator English - Marathi: मनोरंजन करा
• Translator English - Turkish: eğlendirmek
• Translator English - Italian: divertire
• Translator English - Polish: zabawić
• Translator English - Ukrainian: розважати
• Translator English - Romanian: a distra
• Translator English - Greek: ψυχαγωγώ
• Translator English - Afrikaans: vermaak
• Translator English - Swedish: underhålla
• Translator English - Norwegian: underholde

10 QUOTES WITH «ENTERTAIN»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word entertain.

1

George Benson

As my career has progressed, I've had the pleasure of playing with the baddest jazz cats on the planet. But that doesn't change my desire to entertain folks. That's really who I am.

2

Conrad Black

From the early Seventies to the mid-Eighties, I approached Rome at a snail's pace. Having concluded that God existed, I could not seriously entertain the thought of not trying to be in contact with Him.

3

Andrew Bryniarski

If you're going to be an entertainer, entertain thoroughly. If you're going to make a scary movie, scare people well.

4

Ron Conway

Technology does more than delight, entertain and make our lives more convenient, it's also an agent for social good. That is why it's important for tech startups to stay informed about, and make a mark on, policies that impact them.

5

Charlie Cox

It's so easy to become obsessed with the film industry and recognition that we can forget that we are not saving the world. We are just actors trying to entertain people.

6

Herbert Croly

I am not a prophet in any sense of the word, and I entertain an active and intense dislike of the foregoing mixture of optimism, fatalism, and conservatism.

7

Carson Daly

My girlfriend Siri is a food blogger, and we both love to entertain and eat. This is what happens when you're in your thirties: what was once a passion and real appetite for nightlife in New York City manifests itself into other things, like entertaining at home.

8

Lindsay Duncan

My parents' generation was definitely pre-telly, and they knew how to entertain each other. Everybody knew something that they could do - a song or a poem, or a piece of music. At school, I remember being a cat and then a budgie and then a bumble bee. I obviously thought all that was marvelous.

9

Joey Fatone

I think for me, as far as cooking, some of it came naturally just from watching my dad. My dad was more of the cook than my mom was, so it's just handing it down from generation to generation. I just love to cook and have fun. And as performers, we love to cook, and we love to entertain people.

10

Jasper Fforde

There is a contract between the reader and the writer. The readers give me their hard-earned cash, and I have to entertain them.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «ENTERTAIN»

Discover the use of entertain in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to entertain and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Freakin' Fabulous: How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, ...

The co-host of "What Not to Wear" shares his expertise on everything from the importance of tailoring and making the perfect omelet to party planning, table manners, and thank-you notes, with advice on how to become fabulous in every aspect ...

Clinton Kelly, 2008

Entertain

Ed Baines' passion for entertaining his friends and family, combined with his tremendous talent for cooking and experiences in The Dorchester, The River Cafe, the Armani Cafe, and in his packed chain of restaurants Randall & Aubin, is ...

Ed Baines, 2004

The Everything Toddler Activities Book: Over 400 Games and ...

Each simple guide offers a clear overview of all the information one needs to know about a particular topic, making learning something new easy, accessible, practical and affordable.

Joni Levine, 2012

Entertain Like a Gentleman

Bachelor Chef and culinary instructor David Harap has created a series of menus that any man can make his own. This book helps men create unforgettable meals for their guests without stress or needing years of cooking school.

David Harap, 2010

CelebraTORI: Unleashing Your Inner Party Planner to ...

The reality show star shares anecdotal recommendations for throwing a Hollywood party on a budget, covering everything from selecting a theme and honoring special occasions to including children and incorporating personal details.

Tori Spelling, 2013

Never Entertain During Watermelon Season

'Never Entertain During Watermelon Season' is the story of an ordinary guy who attempts to become a standup comedian in the San Francisco bay area during the comedy scene of the nineteen-seventies.

Joe Dyson, 2007

Entertain Your Brain

A collection of brain teasers, puzzles, optical illusions, IQ tests, trivia challenges, and math tests designed to help people improve their brain power.

Ella Harris, Caroline Christin, 2007

99 Ways to Entertain Your Family for Free!

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Mack Thomas, 2009

Elvis Presley: "I Want to Entertain People"

"A biography of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley, discussing his early struggles with poverty, rise to fame as a controversial performer, personal hardships, and legacy"--Provided by publisher.

John Micklos, Jr., 2010

Food Is the Frosting-Company Is the Cake: You Can Entertain ...

The meat and potatoes (and to her vegetarian readers, the tofu and broccoli sprouts) of this book is about opening our front door wider and making it fun and less stressful to invite people into our home more often.

Maggie Marshall, 2007

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «ENTERTAIN»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term entertain is used in the context of the following news items.

Lucha Britannia: Mexico's iconic wrestling lands the UK to entertain …

But if you can entertain people, you can tell little micro-stories and parables. You can slip your anarchic political statements in. Satire on a mass ... «The Independent, Jul 15»

Looking for ways to entertain your children this summer?

Wilbraham Public Library has discounts and full passes available to places like the Eric Carle Museum, the Basketball Hall of Fame, Amelia ... «MassLive.com, Jul 15»

Nashville artist via Kalispell to entertain at State Fair

Nashville singing sensation and Montana State Fair artist Kayla Adams is a Big Sky farm girl at heart. Raised in the old bunkhouse of her ... «Prairie Star, Jul 15»

We won't entertain Vavi and Numsa issues – Cosatu

Cosatu leaders have vowed to crack the whip on disruptive members at the labour federation's special national congress, and have suggested ... «News24, Jul 15»

Singer Edwin McCain to entertain fans at The Rooftop Bar at Poseidon

Greenville, SC native and singer/songwriter Edwin McCain will perform at The Rooftop Bar at Poseidon on Friday, August 27, at 9 PM. McCain's ... «Hilton Head Island Packet, Jul 15»

Dons Entertain Shkendija

Aberdeen are looking to see off Shkendija tonight when they come to Pittodrie as we look to book our place in the second round of Europa ... «Vitalfootball, Jul 15»

Robbie Williams reveals he secretly retired as he brings LetMe …

His Let Me Entertain You tour is the crowd-pleasing, wall-to-wall greatest hits set many of his contemporaries oddly shy away from. “I go onto ... «NEWS.com.au, Jul 15»

Vyapam scam: HC won't entertain MP govt's plea for CBI probe

NEW DELHI: The Madhya Pradesh high court on Wednesday refused to entertain chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's plea for a CBI probe ... «Times of India, Jul 15»

After Greece, Bitcoin Might Entertain Puerto Rico's Debt Crisis

The economic crisis in Greece has placed Bitcoin under the international media's spotlight again. The fact that the price of the digital currency is ... «newsBTC, Jul 15»

Laurence Bowers, MU volleyball players entertain and educate …

Logan Kelly, 7, son of Eric and Kim Kelly of Columbia, dunks a basketball Tuesday as former University of Missouri basketball star Laurence ... «Columbia Daily Tribune, Jul 15»