# captioning

/ˈkæpʃənɪŋ/ (US) · /kˈæpʃənɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/captioning
Updated: 2026-10-19

## Definition

to add written words to a video or photo to show what people say or what is happening. You see it in videos made for people who cannot hear the sound.

For teachers: to add captions or subtitles to video content, or titles to images, to transcribe speech or describe content. Typically applied to broadcast media and online video for accessibility.

## Examples

- She is captioning the video for her friends.
- The volunteers are captioning the school play recording so parents with hearing loss can enjoy it.
- The studio is captioning its entire archive to meet accessibility rules and reach viewers who watch without sound.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.