entertaining

adjective

en·​ter·​tain·​ing ˌen-tər-ˈtā-niŋ How to pronounce entertaining (audio)
ˌin-
Synonyms of entertainingnext
: providing entertainment : diverting
an entertaining book
an entertaining speaker
entertainingly
ˌen-tər-ˈtā-niŋ-lē How to pronounce entertaining (audio)
ˌin-
adverb

Synonyms of entertaining

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Examples of entertaining in a Sentence

a list of entertaining things to do on a snow day
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, not everyone needs a full-sized cornhole set, in which case smaller portable options can be just as entertaining. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 The most entertaining of these is undoubtedly Margaret Cavendish, the Duchess of Newcastle, who died in 1673, at the age of fifty, leaving more than twenty volumes of poems, plays, and essays. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Kevin Owens was promptly replaced by Joe Hendry in a short, but entertaining match. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 The main floor has an open floor plan with the kitchen opening to the living and dining areas, great for entertaining. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for entertaining

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of entertaining was in 1582

Rhymes for entertaining

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Browse Nearby Words

entertainer
entertaining
entertainment
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Cite this Entry

“Entertaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entertaining. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

entertaining

adjective
en·​ter·​tain·​ing ˌen-tər-ˈtān-iŋ How to pronounce entertaining (audio)
: providing amusement, diversion, or recreation
an entertaining book
entertainingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on entertaining

Nglish: Translation of entertaining for Spanish Speakers

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