entitle
Americanverb (used with object)
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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
- entitlement noun
- preentitle verb (used with object)
- subentitle verb (used with object)
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; en- 1, title
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.
“And that would entitle the parents, at the end of the day, to relief.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 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
Disruption caused by things like bad weather, strikes by airport or air traffic control staff, or other "extraordinary circumstances" does not entitle you to extra compensation.
From BBC • Dec. 30, 2024
No. The terms of the award entitle Musk to exercise them whenever he wants to, though he’s barred from selling any of those shares for the next five years.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024
We had waited since April for the magic package containing the packets and packets of seeds we were to sell for five cents each, which would entitle us to a new bicycle.
From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
