entertain
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
entertains;
entertained;
entertaining
entertains;
entertained;
entertaining
Britannica Dictionary definition of ENTERTAIN
1
:
to have people as guests in your home or in a public place (such as a restaurant)
[+ object]
-
They like to entertain their friends at their summer home.
-
Much of his job as a salesman involves entertaining clients.
[no object]
-
They enjoy cooking and entertaining. [=hosting dinner parties and other social occasions]
2
a
[+ object]
:
to perform for (an audience)
:
to provide amusement for (someone) by singing, acting, etc.
-
Jugglers were on hand to entertain the crowd.
-
Our father entertained us with stories.
b
:
to provide or be entertainment for (someone)
[+ object]
-
Our father's stories entertained us.
[no object]
-
Our father's stories never failed to entertain. [=his stories were always enjoyable]
3
[+ object]
:
to have (a thought, idea, etc.) in your mind
-
She was so unhappy with her job that she entertained thoughts of quitting. [=she thought about quitting]
-
It now seems possible to entertain hopes [=to hope] that the strike will be settled soon.
