English Reference
verb · adjective

dubbed

v. · adj.
US /ˈdəbd/ UK /dˈʌbd/ dubbed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to give a person or thing a descriptive name or nickname.

    v.to confer a descriptive name or nickname upon a person or entity. Transitive; often follows the pattern 'dubbed [object] [name]'.

    Simple

    The media dubbed him 'the king of pop' because of his many hit songs.

    In context

    The press quickly dubbed the new legislation the 'privacy tax', a label that the government struggled to shake off during the election cycle.

    Usage

    Often used in the passive voice when discussing how the public or media refers to someone.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Theatre

    v.to replace the original speech in a film or television show with a translation in another language.

    v.to provide a film or television broadcast with a new soundtrack, typically a synchronised translation of the original dialogue.

    Simple

    I prefer watching dubbed movies because I find it hard to read subtitles and watch the action.

    In context

    While some purists insist on original audio with subtitles, many international markets rely heavily on high-quality dubbed versions for mainstream television distribution.

    Pitfall
    I prefer watching dubbed movies than subtitled ones. I prefer watching dubbed movies to subtitled ones.

    When using 'prefer', use 'to' instead of 'than' to compare two things.

    voice overre record
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal

    v.to make someone a knight in a special ceremony.

    v.to invest a person with a knighthood by touching the shoulder with a sword.

    Simple

    The queen dubbed the soldier a knight for his bravery during the war.

    In context

    In a traditional ceremony at the palace, the monarch dubbed the scientist a knight in recognition of her services to medicine.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Theatre

    adj.describing a film or show where the original voices have been replaced by translations.

    adj.referring to a motion picture or television programme that has had its original dialogue replaced by a synchronised translation.

    Simple

    The dubbed version of the cartoon was very popular with local children.

    In context

    The studio released both the original and the dubbed editions of the documentary to ensure maximum accessibility across different regions.

    translatedvoiced over

Dubbed Cristal , the beverage came in a custom bottle that was “clear and flat-bottomed to guard against poison within or bombs hidden in the base,” the London Times noted in 2017.

Smithsonian Magazine· 27 Jul 2026

But the popular press soon dubbed it Custer’s Last Stand.

Smithsonian Magazine· 24 Jun 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated