entretener
verbCEFR B2
What does “entretener” mean in English?
to entertain, to keep occupied
to entertain, to keep occupied (entretener a + person; entretenerse = to amuse oneself or to get held up)
Example sentences
Una buena película de acción no solo entretiene al espectador, sino que también le hace reflexionar.
A good action film does not just entertain the viewer but also makes them reflect.
El presentador sabe muy bien cómo entretener a una audiencia diversa durante más de dos horas.
The presenter knows very well how to keep a diverse audience entertained for over two hours.
Me entretuve revisando los correos y llegué tarde a la reunión.
I got held up going through emails and arrived late to the meeting.
How to use it
Entretener means 'to entertain' or 'to keep someone occupied'. At B2 it appears in media and cultural commentary: entretener al público, entretener a los niños. The reflexive entretenerse (con / en) means 'to amuse oneself' or 'to be delayed (doing something)'. Key pattern: entretener a alguien (personal 'a' required). It also has a colloquial sense of delay: me entretuve hablando — I got held up talking. The noun is el entretenimiento. Don't confuse with divertir (to amuse/enjoy) — entretener can involve keeping someone pleasantly occupied without necessarily being thrilling.
Common mistake
Entretener and divertir both relate to entertainment, but divertir implies active fun or amusement (me divertí mucho — I had a great time), whereas entretener can mean simply keeping attention pleasantly occupied. Entretenerse also means 'to get held up / to dawdle', which has nothing to do with entertainment — context disambiguates.