entitle
Americanverb (used with object)
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entitles,
present (3rd person singular)
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entitled,
past participle, past
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entitling
present participle
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to give (a person or thing) a title, right, or claim to something; furnish with grounds for laying claim.
His executive position entitled him to certain courtesies rarely accorded others.
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to call by a particular title or name.
What was the book entitled?
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to designate (a person) by an honorary title.
verb
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to give (a person) the right to do or have something; qualify; allow
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to give a name or title to
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to confer a title of rank or honour upon
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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entitlesimple
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entitlessimple
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have entitledperfect
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has entitledperfect
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am entitlingprogressive
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are entitlingprogressive
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is entitlingprogressive
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have been entitlingperfect progressive
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has been entitlingperfect progressive
Past
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entitledsimple
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had entitledperfect
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was entitlingprogressive
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were entitlingprogressive
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had been entitlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of entitle
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English entitlen, from Anglo-French entitler, variant of Middle French entituler, from Late Latin intitulāre; see en- 1, title
Explanation
Use the verb entitle to mean "give a right to." At some schools, being a senior might entitle students to go out for lunch on Fridays. The most common use of entitle is the one you might see on a coupon, like one for a free ride at the state fair that entitles the holder to one free ride on the Octopus of Terror. When you entitle someone, you give them a claim to something, like when you entitle someone the best goalie in Canada, or make someone a member of the noble class, like when the Queen entitles, or gives a title to, a worthy person.
Vocabulary lists containing entitle
Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
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Commonly Confused Words, List 4
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The Bluest Eye
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Disruption caused by things like conflict – but also bad weather, strikes by airport or air traffic control staff, or other "extraordinary circumstances" – does not entitle you to extra compensation.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Just following this process would entitle employers’ decisions to “significant deference” from the courts — a “safe harbor,” or legal shield, meant to guard those decisions from challenge.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
"He is on the sex offenders' register – that should not entitle him to a blog. We don't want to hear from you, Huw," she said.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
TD Cowen’s Craig Hutchison says the U.S. government will be granted a participation interest which, once vested, will entitle it to receive 20% of any cash distributions over $17.5 billion made by Westinghouse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2025
You’d think that losing a major organ would entitle you to lie around a few weeks, but for some reason, my doctors want me up and moving almost immediately.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Whether that entitles him to the money is less cut and dried, attorneys say.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Eighteen-year-olds were already entitled to a 16-25 Railcard, but that only entitles them to a third off the cost of travel.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
With nothing left in her garden, Musole took the deal, which also entitles her to 11 pounds of cornmeal, a staple of local diets, every month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025
The courts have established that making a charitable gift is a protected free speech activity that entitles donors to certain privacy rights.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2025
“Unless you find something else I’m afraid you will have to go back to the front when you are through with your jaundice. I don’t believe self-inflicted jaundice entitles you to a convalescent leave.”
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
Single person households which qualify for help from Sheffield City Council's crisis and resilience fund will now be entitled to a one-off payment of £95, up from £65 previously.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
He told BBC News that NI McClean was entitled to his views and "neither I nor anyone else is entitled to say otherwise, because men's mental health is such a complex issue".
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
The peers of the managers who complain about entitled new hires were, on average, slightly more narcissistic at the same age.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
“I would be foolish, or I would feel entitled, if I didn’t expect there to be disappointment,” McDaniel said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
‘I’ve just discovered I’m entitled to a tax refund,’ we say.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
A pasta PSA: After a yearslong hiatus, Olive Garden is selling 10,000 Never-Ending Pasta Passes on Thursday, entitling buyers to 13 weeks of unlimited pasta, soup, salad, and breadsticks.
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
In addition to the cash consideration, Theravance shareholders will receive contingent value rights entitling them to 80% of net proceeds from any future license, divestiture or other monetization of ampreloxetine within the next 10 years.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
In 2023, Newsom extended that version of the program for another five years and added a “refundable” feature entitling studios to cash payments from the state when their credits exceed their tax bills.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2024
In April, the government introduced HRT pre-payment certificates in England, entitling some patients to an annual supply of HRT for £19.30.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2023
“He has a letter from Doc Daneeka entitling him to all the fruit and fruit juices he wants.”
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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