Word
entitle
Phoneticsen·ti·tle, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛnˈtaɪtəɫ/
UK/ɛntˈaɪtəl/
Definitions
01to give a right
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to give someone the official or legal right to do or have something.
v. to confer a legal right or a just claim to receive or do something; frequently used in the passive voice followed by 'to'.
“This membership card entitles you to a ten percent discount on all books.”
“The new legislation entitles citizens to access their personal data held by private corporations without paying an administrative fee.”
Antonyms
02to name a work
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to give a title to a book, movie, song, or piece of writing.
v. to bestow a title upon a literary or artistic work.
Español:intitular
“She decided to entitle her first novel 'The Long Road Home'.”
“The author chose to entitle the final chapter 'Resurrection', providing a thematic bookend to the protagonist's journey.”
03to give a rank
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to give someone a special name or rank, like 'Sir' or 'Lord'.
v. to dignify a person by bestowing an honorary designation or noble title.
“The king chose to entitle the general as a Duke after the war.”
“Historical records indicate that the monarch intended to entitle his closest advisors to ensure their loyalty during the transition of power.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “entitle” in context.
Verb
01. be entitled to compensation
“Passengers were entitled to compensation after the flight was delayed for more than six hours.”
verb + prep + noun
02. entitle citizens to vote
“The new constitutional amendment will entitle citizens to vote in local elections regardless of their residency status.”
verb + noun + infinitive
03. entitle the holder to
“This membership card entitles the holder to a fifteen percent discount on all purchases.”
verb + noun + prep
Adjective
04. fully entitled to
“You are fully entitled to your opinion, even if I strongly disagree with your conclusions.”
adv + adj
Adverb
05. legally entitle someone
“The contract does not legally entitle you to any ownership of the intellectual property.”
adv + verb
06. originally entitle the book
“The author had originally entitled the book 'Shadows', but the publisher insisted on a more catchy name.”
adv + verb
Usage
The verb is transitive. When used regarding rights, it often follows the pattern 'entitle someone to something'.
Pitfall
This card entitles to a discount
This card entitles you to a discount
Entitle is a transitive verb and requires an object (the person receiving the right) before the preposition 'to'.
Real-World Examples
“The organisation cited the example of a man caring for his wife with dementia who was on a level three home care package, entitling her to around eight hours of support each week.” “Over the road, an Italian restaurant attracts customers with a £5 “Eat like Ted” offer that entitles you to a box of Ted’s favourite shortbread biscuits.” Etymology
From Anglo-Norman entitler, from Old French entiteler, (French intituler), from Late Latin intitulāre.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/entitle
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0