# dubbed

/ˈdəbd/ (US) · /dˈʌbd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dubbed
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to give a nickname

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- The media dubbed him 'the king of pop' because of his many hit songs.
- 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. to change film audio

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- I prefer watching dubbed movies because I find it hard to read subtitles and watch the action.
- While some purists insist on original audio with subtitles, many international markets rely heavily on high-quality dubbed versions for mainstream television distribution.

### 3. to knight someone

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to make someone a knight in a special ceremony.

For teachers: to invest a person with a knighthood by touching the shoulder with a sword.

- The queen dubbed the soldier a knight for his bravery during the war.
- In a traditional ceremony at the palace, the monarch dubbed the scientist a knight in recognition of her services to medicine.

### 4. translated audio

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a film or show where the original voices have been replaced by translations.

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

- The dubbed version of the cartoon was very popular with local children.
- The studio released both the original and the dubbed editions of the documentary to ensure maximum accessibility across different regions.

## Examples

- The movie was dubbed into Spanish for the local audience.
- Because he was always late for meetings, his colleagues dubbed him 'The Ghost' behind his back.
- While purists often prefer subtitles to preserve the original performance, many international markets rely on high-quality dubbed versions to make foreign cinema accessible to a broader domestic audience.

---

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.