overdub

American  

[oh-ver-duhb, oh-ver-duhb] / ˌoʊ vərˈdʌb, ˈoʊ vərˌdʌb /

verb (used without object)

overdubbed, overdubbing

1. to add other recorded sound or music, as a supplementary instrumental or vocal track, to a taped musical track to complete or enhance a recording.

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verb (used with object)

overdubbed, overdubbing

1. to add (a track or tracks) to a musical recording.

noun

1. a recorded segment or layer of instrumental parts, vocalization, or sound effects integrated into a musical recording.

overdub British  

verb

1. to add (new sound) on a spare track or tracks

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noun

1. the addition of new sound to a recording; the blending of various layers of sound in one recording

Etymology

Origin of overdub

First recorded in 1965–70; over- + dub ⁴

Example Sentences

His 2022 debut, “Prey,” is the first major movie to feature a Native American woman, Amber Midthunder, as the lead in a film released with a Native American language overdub.

From Salon • Nov. 12, 2025

“You can always overdub or do it again, but you can never do a first take twice,” says Bolas, who has worked with Young since the mid-1980s.

From Washington Post • Dec. 8, 2021

For the title track, “I was free to play my leads without having to overdub them later,” explains Krieger.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2021

The emotion of the character is still present and the end results are definitely more believable than a traditional overdub because the movement of the mouth is synchronized to the new dialogue.

From The Verge • Sep. 21, 2021

On that track, from 1977, Ms. Mitchell recorded her piano and voice in a wandering, liberated style, then allowed the arranger Mike Gibbs to overdub orchestration.

From New York Times • Nov. 7, 2019