entertain

7 definitions • 11 examples

to keep a group of people interested or enjoying themselves:

We hired a magician to entertain the children.

Most children's television programmes aim to educate and entertain at the same time.

to invite someone to your home and give food and drink to them:

We entertain a lot of people, mainly business associates of my wife's.

Now that I live on my own, I don't entertain much.

to hold something in your mind or to be willing to consider or accept something:

The General refused to entertain the possibility of defeat.

to keep a person or a group of people interested or amused:

[ I ] Children’s games and books seek to teach and entertain at the same time.

[ T ] Kerry and Bill entertained listeners of their radio show with tales of their adventures on an ocean cruise.

to invite one or more people to your house and give food and drink to them:

[ T ] She was a good cook and liked to entertain her friends with new dishes.

[ I ] We didn’t entertain much over the holidays this year.

to hold in your mind or to be willing to consider or accept:

He entertained some doubts about how truthful the government was.

to take customers or possible customers out to restaurants, bars, theatres, etc. as a way of encouraging them to do business with you:

Employees can use their expense accounts for entertaining a client.