Entertaiment is an entertaining and amusing activity. It can take many forms, from a quiet evening solving crosswords to a stadium rock concert. It can also serve a serious purpose, as in ceremonies and festivals that mark life events or religious festivals that provide a respite from daily stressors.

Often entertainment involves play, especially for children. It can teach them to watch performances (on TV or at a circus); prepare them for adult activities such as child rearing and social interaction through games involving dolls or groups; or develop motor skills necessary for music and sports.

The word entertain derives from the Latin intertenere, meaning to hold inside. Click on a collocation to see more examples. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘Entertainment.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.