en·ter·tain
Pronounced:
/ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
en·ter·tains; en·ter·tained; en·ter·tain·ingMeaning:
1 : to have people as guests in your home or in a public place (such as a restaurant) [+ obj] ▪ They like to entertain their friends at their summer home. ▪ Much of his job as a salesman involves entertaining clients. [no obj] ▪ They enjoy cooking and entertaining. [=hosting dinner parties and other social occasions]
2 a [+ obj] : 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) [+ obj] ▪ Our father's stories entertained us. [no obj] ▪ Our father's stories never failed to entertain. [=his stories were always enjoyable]
3 [+ obj] : 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.
2 a [+ obj] : 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) [+ obj] ▪ Our father's stories entertained us. [no obj] ▪ Our father's stories never failed to entertain. [=his stories were always enjoyable]
3 [+ obj] : 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.