Nominal Forms
Infinitive: to entertain
Participle: entertained
Gerund: entertaining
Cognates
-
Indicative
Present
| I | entertain |
| you | entertain |
| he;she;it | entertains |
| we | entertain |
| you | entertain |
| they | entertain |
Perfect
| I | have entertained |
| you | have entertained |
| he;she;it | has entertained |
| we | have entertained |
| you | have entertained |
| they | have entertained |
Past
| I | entertained |
| you | entertained |
| he;she;it | entertained |
| we | entertained |
| you | entertained |
| they | entertained |
Pluperfect
| I | had entertained |
| you | had entertained |
| he;she;it | had entertained |
| we | had entertained |
| you | had entertained |
| they | had entertained |
Future
| I | will entertain |
| you | will entertain |
| he;she;it | will entertain |
| we | will entertain |
| you | will entertain |
| they | will entertain |
Future Perfect
| I | will have entertained |
| you | will have entertained |
| he;she;it | will have entertained |
| we | will have entertained |
| you | will have entertained |
| they | will have entertained |
Subjunctive
Present
| I | entertain |
| you | entertain |
| he;she;it | entertain |
| we | entertain |
| you | entertain |
| they | entertain |
Perfect
| I | have entertained |
| you | have entertained |
| he;she;it | have entertained |
| we | have entertained |
| you | have entertained |
| they | have entertained |
Imperfect
| I | entertained |
| you | entertained |
| he;she;it | entertained |
| we | entertained |
| you | entertained |
| they | entertained |
Pluperfect
| I | had entertained |
| you | had entertained |
| he;she;it | had entertained |
| we | had entertained |
| you | had entertained |
| they | had entertained |
Conditional
Present
| I | would entertain |
| you | would entertain |
| he;she;it | would entertain |
| we | would entertain |
| you | would entertain |
| they | would entertain |
Perfect
| I | would have entertained |
| you | would have entertained |
| he;she;it | would have entertained |
| we | would have entertained |
| you | would have entertained |
| they | would have entertained |
Imperative
| you | entertain |
| we | Let's entertain |
| you | entertain |
Verbs conjugated like 'entertain'
abandon,
abduct,
abear,
aberr,
abject,
abord,
abort,
abound,
abraid,
abray,
abrook,
abscind,
abscond,
absist,
absorb,
abstain,
abstract,
accend,
accent,
accept, etc. (List truncated at 20 verbs)
Verbs similar to 'entertain'
encurtain,
entertake,
entrain,
uncertain,
appertain,
ascertain,
engrain,
enterlace,
entrail,
enturban,
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- amuse
- beguile, delight, enthrall, divert, charm, absorb, please, disport
- admit
- recognize, consider, heed, receive
- harbor
- imagine, cherish, hold, consider
Antonyms
- admit
- deny, disavow, dispute, dissent
Additional Information
Phrasal Verbs
Etymology
1. 1475, "to keep up, maintain," from M.Fr.
entretenir, from O.Fr.
entretenir "hold together, support," from
entre- "among" (from L.
inter) +
tenir "to hold" (from L.
tenere; see tenet). Sense of "have a guest" is 1490; that of "amuse" is 1626.
Entertainer "public performer" is from c.1535.
2. From Middle English entertenen, from Middle French entretenir, from Old French entretenir, from entre (“among”) + tenir (“to hold”), from Latin inter + teneō (“hold, keep”). For the noun, compare French entretien.
3. Sense of answering a phone call in Malaysian English is influenced by Malay layan “to serve, to attend to or engage with something”. See: Old French '
entretenir'.
Verbs referencing "entertain"
Spanish
entretener.
Sample Sentences
-
[...] me ! ’ evincing, I thought, even in this, an anxiety peculiar to their condition, that their little feats of agility should be seen. Among them was a small laughing fellow, who stood aloof, entertaining himself with a gymnastic exercise for bringing the arms and chest into play; which he enjoyed mightily; especially when, in thrusting out his right arm, he brought it into contact with another boy. [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
[...] making screws and the like. His time was nearly out. He was not only a very dexterous thief, but was notorious for his boldness and hardihood, and for the number of his previous convictions. He entertained us with a long account of his achievements, which he narrated with such infinite relish, that he actually seemed to lick his lips as he told us racy anecdotes of stolen plate, and of old ladies whom [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
[...] flight of steps leading to the door, two or three citizens were balancing themselves on rocking-chairs, and smoking cigars. We found it a very large and elegant establishment, and were as well entertained as travellers need desire to be. The climate being a thirsty one, there was never, at any hour of the day, a scarcity of loungers in the spacious bar, or a cessation of the mixing of cool liquors: [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
The married couple were enjoying their honeymoon, and entertaining a brilliant circle of friends in their splendid villa, near Lake Pontchartrain, when, one day, a letter was brought to him in _that_ well-remembered writing. It was handed to him while he was in [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
-
I entertained quite a curiosity in reference to this place, from having seen at Sandusky a specimen of its literature in the shape of a newspaper, which was very strong indeed upon the subject of Lord Ashburton [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
[...] between one country and another is so very narrow as at Niagara, desertion from the ranks can scarcely fail to be of frequent occurrence: and it may be reasonably supposed that when the soldiers entertain the wildest and maddest hopes of the fortune and independence that await them on the other side, the impulse to play traitor, which such a place suggests to dishonest minds, is not weakened. But it [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
[...] towards the Shakers; view them with much favour, or extend towards them any very lenient construction. I so abhor, and from my soul detest that bad spirit, no matter by what class or sect it may be entertained, which would strip life of its healthful graces, rob youth of its innocent pleasures, pluck from maturity and age their pleasant ornaments, and make existence but a narrow path towards the grave: [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
These were additions to the list of entertaining incidents, but there was still another source of interest. We carried in the steerage nearly a hundred passengers: a little world of poverty: and as we came to know individuals among them by sight, [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
‘Fears are entertained that the wound will be mortal. _We understand that Mr. Arpin has given security for his appearance at the Criminal Court to answer the charge_. ’
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
[...] determined to preserve order, had threatened to shoot Bury, whereupon Bury drew a pistol and shot the barkeeper down. He was not dead at the last accounts, but slight hopes were entertained of his recovery. ’
(American Notes for General Circulation)