Meaning & use
entertaining
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Enjoyable and amusing to watch, hear or take part in.
Grammar: Can follow be or come before a noun: an entertaining story.
Patterns
- entertaining to watch
- an entertaining speaker
The magician gave an entertaining show for the children.
Her stories are always entertaining.
It was an entertaining film, though not very deep.
noununcountable
The act of having guests in your home and giving them food and drink.
Grammar: Uncountable noun, from the -ing form: she loves entertaining.
Patterns
- love entertaining
- entertaining at home
Entertaining at home can be cheaper than eating out.
She does a lot of entertaining at Christmas.
The large kitchen is ideal for entertaining.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Present participle of entertain: amusing people, or considering an idea.
Grammar: The -ing form of entertain; takes an object when meaning consider: entertaining the idea.
Patterns
- entertaining someone
- entertaining an idea
The clown was entertaining the children at the party.
He is entertaining the idea of moving abroad.
We are entertaining my parents this weekend.
Word forms
| comparative | more entertaining |
|---|---|
| superlative | most entertaining |
Common combinations
- highly entertaining
- The talk was highly entertaining.
- entertaining speaker
- He is an entertaining speaker.
- entertaining and informative
- The documentary is entertaining and informative.
- entertaining guests
- They spent the evening entertaining guests.
- entertaining idea
- It is an entertaining idea, but it will not work.
Synonyms and how they differ
- amusing
- Amusing suggests that something makes you smile or laugh, while entertaining covers anything enjoyable.
- enjoyable
- Enjoyable is more general, whereas entertaining suggests a show or performance.
- diverting
- Diverting is old-fashioned and suggests a light distraction.
- engaging
- Engaging suggests holding your attention, not just amusing.
Opposites
Word family
- entertain verb
- to amuse, or to host guests
- entertainment noun
- shows and activities people enjoy
- entertainer noun
- a person who performs for others
- entertainingly adverb
- in an amusing way
Commonly confused: entertaining or entertained? entertaining or interesting?
entertaining vs entertained
Entertained describes someone amused, while entertaining describes the thing that amuses.
entertaining vs interesting
Interesting holds attention through ideas, while entertaining is about enjoyment and fun.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'entertaining' as a noun?
Choose one answer.
In the first sentence entertaining names the activity of hosting guests. In the others it is an adjective.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “entertaining”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.