entertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "entertain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb when you wish to describe an activity whereby people are provided with amusement, enjoyment, or entertainment. Example sentence: The guests were entertained by the magician's performance.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In tonight's other Group J match, Lazio entertain Panathinaikos in Rome.

The Guardian - Sport

While the Tories will be pleased by the narrowing of the gap with Labour, the party's inability to push its own tally up higher to a point where it could entertain the prospect of an overall Commons majority will be a worry, particularly after a rush of good economic news.

The Guardian

Bayern ought not to have been vulnerable, given their lead, but a home crowd tends to will its team to commit, particularly those with a big club's duty to entertain.

The Guardian - Sport

Since the introduction of its digital-first strategy the Guardian has grown rapidly from a UK-based newspaper into a global, Pulitzer Prize-winning force, and the new approach will put digital thinking, innovation and open journalism at the heart of the organisation's operations, while still producing a wonderful newspaper to delight and entertain print readers.

The Guardian

The desire to entertain might not be among the priorities, but that is exactly what Billy Elliot does.

The Guardian - Film

"As part of the team, you will create dynamic unique content that will engage, inform and entertain our audience in a timely, contemporary manner.

The Guardian

It will continue to bind us together, through events of national significance … It will also educate, inform and entertain us … And it will remain a big beast of the economy, investing in home-grown talent and exporting to the world.

The Guardian

While we are considering political solutions, we don't think that Assad will even entertain the idea of Farouq al-Sharaa stepping in and leading the country.

The Guardian

So does this mean that for all her reputation as a difficult and tricky film-maker, she also has a simpler aim: to entertain?

The Guardian - Film

Dino initially refused to entertain the idea of moving.

The Guardian - Sport

"The positive thing to have come out of this is that everyone is banding together," said Klaus Horst, a 56-year-old civil servant, as he watched from Dresden's Brühlsche terrace, where jugglers and street musicians carried on delivering their entertain as usual to the crowds of tourists enjoying ice cream and beer in the summer sunshine while down below the murky waters swirled past.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to indicate the idea of considering something, use "entertain" followed by 'the idea of', 'the thought of', 'the possibility of'.

Common error

Avoid using "entertain" in highly formal or academic writing when a more precise term like "analyze", "examine", or "investigate" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "entertain" is as a transitive verb, indicating an action performed on an object (e.g., "entertain the audience"). As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes providing amusement or enjoyment. It can also function as an intransitive verb when signifying the consideration of an idea.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "entertain" is a versatile verb with multiple meanings, primarily related to providing amusement and considering ideas. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. It is commonly used in News & Media and Formal & Business writing, with a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences. Remember to consider your specific intent and audience when choosing "entertain" and explore alternatives like "amuse" or "consider" for more precise communication. Avoid overusing "entertain" in highly formal or academic contexts where more specific vocabulary may be more appropriate. Understanding these nuances will allow you to use "entertain" effectively and enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amuse

Focuses specifically on providing enjoyment and laughter.

delight

Implies a high degree of pleasure and satisfaction.

engage

Highlights the act of capturing and holding someone's attention.

captivate

Suggests a powerful and enchanting form of entertainment.

interest

Focuses on arousing curiosity or concern.

divert

Emphasizes distraction from worry or boredom.

recreate

Highlights the activity of amusing oneself.

distract

Focuses on drawing attention away from something else.

host

Implies receiving and taking care of guests.

consider

Focuses on thinking carefully about something, often a proposal or idea.

FAQs

How to use "entertain" in a sentence?

You can use "entertain" to describe amusing someone, like "The comedian aimed to "entertain" the audience", or considering an idea, such as "I'm willing to "entertain" new strategies".

What can I say instead of "entertain" when I mean 'amuse'?

If you're looking for alternatives to "entertain" meaning 'amuse', consider using "amuse", "delight", or "captivate", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "entertain" to mean 'consider'?

You can use "entertain" to mean 'consider' when you're open to thinking about an idea or suggestion, even if you're not fully convinced. For example, "I'm willing to "entertain" the possibility of a new marketing campaign".

What's the difference between "entertain" and "distract"?

"Entertain" generally means to provide enjoyment or amusement, while "distract" means to draw attention away from something. You might "entertain" children with games, but "distract" them from their worries.