1
as in amuses
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied
entertain the kids while I go and prepare dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in contemplates
to give serious and careful thought to
have you ever entertained the thought that you could be wrong?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in has
to keep in one's mind or heart
I don't entertain the hope of ever getting a girl like that to go out with me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of entertains
With delicate humor and heartfelt moments, this bittersweet class-comedy entertains while provoking thought about our ability to live together and create meaningful connections.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
This style of theater both enlightens and entertains, each actor stepping out of the ensemble inside Kelleher’s direction that teeters on the edge of heavy-handidness without ever getting there.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
Take the quiz here … EGG DROP — Chef entertains food festival crowd with unexpected crack.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
According to Fora advisor Amna Ismail, the museum entertains guests of all ages with its collection of over 33 million specimens and artifacts.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
The Oscar-winning actress also sings, writes, entertains fans with her viral cooking videos, and helms the lifestyle empire Goop — valued at around $250 million.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
For the family that entertains often, the kitchen was designed to be fully functional without sacrificing atmosphere.
—Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
Tellingly, when thinking about Erika on his own, Elliot entertains more traditional desires, like getting married and starting a family.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026
Washington Post food critic Elazar Sontag entertains your restaurant questions, rants and raves.
—Elazar Sontag, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2026
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
This style of theater both enlightens and entertains, each actor stepping out of the ensemble inside Kelleher’s direction that teeters on the edge of heavy-handidness without ever getting there.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
Take the quiz here … EGG DROP — Chef entertains food festival crowd with unexpected crack.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
According to Fora advisor Amna Ismail, the museum entertains guests of all ages with its collection of over 33 million specimens and artifacts.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
The Oscar-winning actress also sings, writes, entertains fans with her viral cooking videos, and helms the lifestyle empire Goop — valued at around $250 million.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
For the family that entertains often, the kitchen was designed to be fully functional without sacrificing atmosphere.
—Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
Tellingly, when thinking about Erika on his own, Elliot entertains more traditional desires, like getting married and starting a family.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026
Washington Post food critic Elazar Sontag entertains your restaurant questions, rants and raves.
—Elazar Sontag, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entertains
Verb
-
The thing that amuses me the most?—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
22 Feb. 2026
-
In December, the two sat down in Exactly Right’s Burbank headquarters — a setting that still amuses them both.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Robert Pogue Harrison contemplates our ever-growing will to ignorance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Their bond, forged by the exotic nature of their remote landscape, begins to change as Lily enters her teenage years and Bodhi contemplates friendship and family beyond his reptilian counterparts.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The park has a full-size soccer field, a sunken basketball court that doubles as a reservoir, a long wooden walkway raised above plantings and tall grasses, a community pavilion, a café, and a fifty-thousand-gallon cistern that captures rain for irrigation.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Messi, for example, has a lifetime deal with Adidas that will comfortably run into hundreds of millions of dollars, while Ronaldo signed a lifetime deal with Nike in 2016.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Around the old-growth-fir dining table, Nansen regales us with tales of the rebuild.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In the indie film, Hawke transforms himself into the diminutive composer, who regales attendees at Sardi’s bar with anecdotes about his career highs in the theater and bemoans the loss of his former partnership with Richard Rodgers.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st century hustle possible?—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Congress holds first hearing in 50 years on UFOs following reports of unexplained aerial phenomena by the military.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Cost-efficient energy and chemical production Researchers revealed that solar-power photocatalysis – turning sunlight into energy – holds promise for sustainable and cost-efficient energy and chemical production.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The final part of Cantorna’s statement could be crucial as a judge considers whether Subu can remain in the United States.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
-
As Kansas City considers big changes to its rules for developers seeking tax breaks, local affordable housing advocates want officials to pump the brakes and think more about the consequences of such a shift.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As private property, management retains the authority to deny requests to hold organized events or protests on site.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Despite sometimes disruptive infrastructure upgrades across town to handle the denser-than-ever crowds, the rapidly growing adventure capital retains corners of stillness and beauty.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entertains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entertains. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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