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• Cebú
  Cebú

  noun

  an island in the S central Philippines. 1,703 sq. mi. (4,411 sq. km).
• Cebu
  Cebu

  noun

  an island in the central Philippines. Pop: 2 091 602 (latest est). Area: 4422 sq km (1707 sq miles)

Cebú

American  

[se-boo] / sɛˈbu /

noun

1. an island in the S central Philippines. 1,703 sq. mi. (4,411 sq. km).

2. a seaport on this island.

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Cebu British  

/ sɪˈbuː /

noun

1. an island in the central Philippines. Pop: 2 091 602 (latest est). Area: 4422 sq km (1707 sq miles)

2. a port in the Philippines, on E Cebu island. Pop: 796 000 (2005 est)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Cebú Cebu

The capital city, Cebú, was the first in the Archipelago to possess a municipality, and was, in fact, until 1571, the capital of the Philippines.

From The Inhabitants of the Philippines by Sawyer, Frederic H.

But breaking down in health because of his strenuous life in the snaring of souls, he was compelled to retire to the convent of Cebú and then to that of Manila.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 41 of 55, 1691-1700 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century. by Blair, Emma Helen

Portuguese resistance caused a removal to Panay, but in 1571 Cebú was reoccupied and Manila founded.

From The Colonization of North America 1492-1783 by Bolton, Herbert Eugene

From their decisions there was an appeal to the Audiencia at Cebú, and from there to the Supreme Court, Madrid.

From The Inhabitants of the Philippines by Sawyer, Frederic H.

His preaching was especially effective in the city of Cebú which was more densely populated in his time than a century later.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 41 of 55, 1691-1700 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century. by Blair, Emma Helen

Find insight on Continental AG, Cebu Air, Geely Automobile and more in the latest Market Talks covering auto and transport.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

The Philippines, among the worst affected by fuel price spikes caused by the Iran war, hosted the Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations annual summit on the central island province of Cebu.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2026

A long shot of a ship in harbor, and the unwitting glee with which the inhabitants of 1520s Cebu run to the beach to welcome the sailors, needs no words.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

Garganera noted that the disaster was a "sad, double whammy" for the city, as the facility was the "lone service provider" for Cebu and adjacent communities.

From Barron's ● Jan. 10, 2026

The dato of Cebu, or the “Christian king,” as Pigafetta called their new ally, was at war with the islanders of Mactán.

From A History of the Philippines by Barrows, David P.