entertaining

Word family

• entertain
  verbB1
• entertainment
  nounB1
• entertainer
  nounB1
• unentertaining
  adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Amusing, enjoyable, and diverting all describe positive experiences, but they differ in emphasis. Amusing highlights humour and laughter — an amusing joke makes you chuckle. Enjoyable is the broadest term, covering anything that gives pleasure, from a walk in the park to a concert. Diverting is more formal and emphasises a pleasant distraction from everyday worries — a diverting book takes your mind off work. Entertaining sits between these: it suggests something holds your attention through interest, humour, or engagement. A film can be entertaining without being hilarious (amusing) or deeply satisfying (enjoyable). In everyday conversation, entertaining is more common than diverting, while enjoyable is the safest all-purpose choice.

Common collocations

Etymology

Entertaining comes from the verb entertain, which entered English through Old French entretenir, meaning “to hold together” or “to keep” (from Latin inter “between” + tenere “to hold”). The meaning shifted over time: first “maintain, support” (14th century), then “treat as a guest” (15th century), and later “amuse” (17th century). The adjective entertaining emerged from the “amuse” sense, while the noun entertaining preserves the older “hosting guests” meaning.