entitle
gb/ɪntˈaɪtəl/ us/ɪntˈaɪtəl/
B1
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Give someone a legal or official right
To give someone the right to do or have something.
Usage pattern:
to entitle [someone] to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'entitle' with 'title', using it to mean 'to name a book'. That is a different meaning.
Synonyms
authorize (Suggests formal permission, often from an authority.)
|
qualify (Implies meeting conditions that allow access or rights.)
Antonyms
forbid (Means to refuse permission or prohibit something.)
Collocations
entitle someone to benefits
|entitle someone to compensation
|entitle someone to a refund
|legally entitled
|fully entitled
Themes
law
|business
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new policy will entitle all employees to free health insurance.
- Being a member entitles you to use all the facilities.
- Your ticket entitles you to one free drink.
Learner examples
- My job entitles me to free lunch.
- This card entitles you to a discount.
- The pass entitles you to enter the museum.
Verb
B2
action
2
Give a title or name
To give a book, movie, or other work its name.
Usage pattern:
to entitle [something] [title]
Common mistake:
Learners may incorrectly use this sense when they mean 'give the right to', especially in legal contexts.
Synonyms
name (A more general word for giving any name, not just titles of works.)
|
call (Informal term for naming something.)
Antonyms
untitle (Rare; means to remove a title from something.)
Collocations
entitled 'War and Peace'
|book entitled
|film entitled
Themes
arts
|media
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- She wrote a novel entitled 'The Last Summer'.
- His speech, entitled 'The Future of Energy', drew a large audience.
- The painting was entitled 'Sunset Over the Hills'.
Learner examples
- I read a book entitled 'The Big City'.
- He made a movie entitled 'Happy Days'.
- We saw a picture entitled 'Blue Sky'.
Grammar
Dictionary form
entitle
IPA
GB/ɪntˈaɪtəl/
US/ɪntˈaɪtəl/
Syllables & stress
en - title (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (title)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: entitle
- 3rd Person Singular: entitles
- Present Participle: entitling
- Past: entitled
Word family
Forms
entitles
verb
entitling
verb
entitled
verb
Core family
entitlement
noun C1
Related words
title
noun A1
Expressions
be entitled to
1/bˈi ɪntˈaɪtəld tə/
fixed phrase
Have the right to something
To have the right to get or do something.
Examples
- Employees are entitled to paid holidays.
- As a student, you may be entitled to financial support.
feel entitled to
1/fˈil ɪntˈaɪtəld tə/
fixed phrase
Believe you have the right to something
To think you should get or do something as your right.
Examples
- He feels entitled to special treatment because of his position.
- Some customers feel entitled to a refund for any small issue.