Entertain Meaning
/ˌɛntəˈteɪn/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbto amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably
verbTo have someone over at one's home, or some other venue, for a party or visit.
Sentence Examples
Now let me entertain you with music.
I cannot entertain such a request.
The aim of the series is both to entertain and inform.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The clown's tricks will ____ the children at the birthday party.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Clowns usually ____ children with jokes and balloon animals at parties.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English entertenen, from Middle French entretenir, from Old French entretenir, from entre (“among”) + tenir (“to hold”), from Latin inter + teneō (“hold, keep”). For the noun, compare French entretien. Sense of answering a phone call in Malaysian English is influenced by Malay layan “to serve, to attend to or engage with something”.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers[…]"
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Hebrews 13:2:
"About 200 guests were invited and entertained to lunch in the so-called booking hall at Waterloo; the contractors, Spiers & Pond Limited, were much praised for organising the repast, with attendant cloak room facilities, so well in such unfavourable surroundings."
— 1958 August 26, T. S. Lascelles, “Diamond Jubilee of the Waterloo & City Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 523:
"I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke."
— 1851, Thomas De Quincey, Literary Reminiscences:
"A rumour gained ground, — and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people."
— 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC:
"Intreat 'em fair, and give them friendly speech,
And seem to them as if thy sins were great,
Till thou hast gotten to be entertain'd."
— c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The clown's tricks will ____ the children at the birthday party.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Clowns usually ____ children with jokes and balloon animals at parties.