Iba a ser un vuelo largo, así que me compré un libro para entretener el viaje.It was going to be a long flight, so I bought a book to while away the journey.
El abuelo fue muy valiente, entretuvo su esperanza de curación hasta el final.Grandpa was very brave; he entertained his hope for a cure until the very end.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).
En los días de calor, los niños se entretienen jugando en la piscina.On hot days, the children keep themselves entertained playing in the swimming pool.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Te ves cansado.).
Ve al supermercado a comprar huevos y no te entretengas con tus amigos porque los necesito ya.Go to the supermarket to buy some eggs, and don't dillydally with your friends because I need them now.
Me entretuve tratando de salir de la carretera porque había habido un accidente.I was held up trying to get off the highway because there had been an accident.
nos entretuvo con sus chistes mientras esperábamoshe kept us entertained o amused with his jokes while we were waiting;hacer punto la entretieneshe amuses herself by knitting
2(retener)to keep;detain (formal)
pues no le entretengo másthen I won't keep o(formal) detain you any longer;una vecina me entretuvo hablando en las escalerasa neighbour kept me talking on the stairs
3(distraer)
entretener a algnto distract sb's attention;uno de los ladrones entretuvo a la dependientaone of the thieves distracted the shop assistant's attention;entretener algo: entretuvieron la espera leyendothey whiled away the time by reading;me tomé una tapa para entretener el hambreI had a snack to take the edge off my hunger
4(dar largas a)
me está entreteniendo con mentiras para no pagarmehe's putting me off with lies so as not to pay me
