# entertain

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˌɛntəˈteɪn/ · frequency rank #9,175

## Definitions
1. to amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably
2. To have someone over at one's home, or some other venue, for a party or visit.
3. to receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind
4. to take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep
5. to meet or encounter, as an enemy
6. to lead on; to bring along; to introduce
7. to help; to assist; to answer a phone call

## Etymology
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.
Sense of answering a phone call in Malaysian English is influenced by Malay layan “to serve, to attend to or engage with something”.

## Easily confused with
- **entertained** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/entertain-vs-entertained)
- **entertainer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/entertain-vs-entertainer)

## Common misspellings (13)
`enetrtain`, `enntertain`, `enteratin`, `enterrtain`, `entertainn`, `entertani`, `entertian`, `enterttain`, `entetrain`, `entretain`, `enttertain`, `etnertain`, `netertain`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/entertain