entertains

Entertains is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb entertain. It primarily means to provide amusement, enjoyment, or diversion for others, such as hosting a party, performing, or presenting content designed to engage an audience. The term can also extend to the act of considering or welcoming a possibility or idea, as in the phrase “the committee entertains several proposals.”

In usage, entertain is typically transitive when describing actions that deliver amusement or hospitality: “The club entertains its members with weekly performances.” It can also be used intransitively in contexts involving hosting people: “The host entertains the guests.” The sense of the word can range from light entertainment to formal reception or cultural programming, and it may carry nuances of hospitality, sponsorship, or approval.

Etymologically, entertain originates from Old French entretenir, meaning to maintain or support, ultimately derived from Latin intertenere, to hold between or to maintain. The modern sense of providing amusement developed over time, alongside related forms such as entertainment, entertainer, and entertaining.

Usage notes include the broad applicability of the term to artistic or recreational activities intended for public or private audiences, such as music, theater, film, or events. In formal writing, entertain can also mean to consider or deliberate on an idea or proposal, rather than to reject it outright, as in “the board entertained several options.” The term remains common in both everyday and professional contexts.