# title

/ˈtaɪtəɫ/ (US) · /tˈaɪtəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/title
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. name of a work

noun · CEFR A1

the name of a book, movie, song, or painting.

For teachers: the identifying name given to a literary, musical, or artistic work.

- I can never remember the title of that movie, but I know who stars in it.
- The author struggled to find a title that captured the dark irony of the novel without alienating potential readers.

### 2. social or professional rank

noun · CEFR A2

a word used before a person's name to show their job or social rank, like 'Dr.' or 'Captain'.

For teachers: an appellation attached to a person's name to signify official position, professional qualification, or social standing.

- Please include your professional title on the application form.
- Despite his significant contributions to the field, he rarely used his academic title in casual social settings.

### 3. sports championship

noun · CEFR B1

the position of being the winner in a sports competition.

For teachers: the status or recognition accorded to the winner of a championship or tournament.

- The team won the world title for the third year in a row.
- After a grueling season, the underdog team finally secured the league title in a dramatic final match.

### 4. legal ownership

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the legal right to own a piece of property, like a house or a car.

For teachers: the legal right to possession of property, or the document constituting evidence of such a right.

- You will receive the title to the car once the final payment is made.
- The lawyer spent weeks investigating the property's history to ensure the title was clear of any previous claims.

### 5. on-screen text

noun · CEFR B2

words shown on a screen during a movie or TV show, such as the credits.

For teachers: textual matter appearing on screen in a film or television broadcast, typically used in the plural.

- The opening titles were beautifully designed and set the mood for the film.
- The documentary used descriptive titles to introduce each expert witness as they appeared on screen.

### 6. to give a name

verb · CEFR B1

to give a name to a book, song, or other work.

For teachers: to provide a work with a name or heading. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- She decided to title her first book after the town where she grew up.
- The artist chose to title the sculpture 'Silence' to reflect the stillness of the gallery space.

## Examples

- What is the title of your favorite book?
- She worked hard for years to earn the title of Professor at the university.
- The legal team spent weeks verifying the title to the estate to ensure there were no outstanding claims before the sale was finalized.

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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.