dub

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈdəb 

dubbed; dubbing

transitive verb

1

a

: to confer knighthood on

was dubbed Sir Philip

b

: to call by a distinctive title, epithet, or nickname

Critics have dubbed him the new king of rock 'n' roll.

2

: to trim or remove the comb (see comb entry 1 sense 2a) and wattles of

3

a

golf : to hit (a ball or shot) poorly

b

: to execute poorly

a dubbed attempt

dub

2 of 5

verb (2)

dubbed; dubbing; dubs

transitive verb

1

: to add (sound effects or new dialogue) to a film or to a radio or television production

—usually used with in

They dubbed in the music.

2

: to provide (a film or other video recording) with a new soundtrack and especially dialogue in a different language

The film was dubbed in French and Spanish.

3

: to make a new recording of (previously recorded sound)

That file was probably created … years earlier from a CD, which itself may have been created from a suboptimal "safety copy" of the LP master—or even from a dubbed duplicate of that dubbed duplicate.

—Jody Rosen

also : to mix (recorded sound from different sources) into a single recording

dub

3 of 5

noun (1)

: Jamaican music in which audio effects and spoken or chanted words are imposed on an instrumental reggae background

dub

4 of 5

noun (2)

: one who is inept or clumsy

dub

5 of 5

noun (3)

chiefly Scotland

: pool, puddle

Synonyms of dub

Verb (1)

• name
• label
• call
• term
• title
• nominate
• style
• nickname
• designate
• denominate

Noun (2)

• lubber
• gawk
• klutz
• lump
• lummox
• butterfingers
• looby

Examples of dub in a Sentence

Verb (1)

I've dubbed my car the "Lone Ranger," although "Loan Raider" probably would have been more apt

he dubbed his first attempt at homemade wine, but he got it reasonably right on the second

Noun (2)

even though I wasn't the most graceful skater on the ice, I thought I did well for a dub

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

While the studio, streaming service HBO Max and affiliated cable channel HBO are broadly considered the jewels in the WBD crow, the TV networks have been dubbed – perhaps unfairly – ‘CrapCo’ in some circles. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025

Earlier this month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement ramped up its presence in the Twin Cities in what is dubbed Operation Metro Surge. —Jonah Kaplan, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

There are two dining cars, the all-purpose lounge dubbed the Observation Car, and an onboard Dior spa. —Jake Emen, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025

Oprah Winfrey dubbed this $398 Lola Blanket one of her favorite things this year. —Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1) and Noun (2)

Middle English dubben, from Old English dubbian; akin to Old Norse dubba to dub, Old High German tubili plug

Verb (2)

by shortening & alteration from double

Noun (3)

Middle English (Scots) dubbe

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1974, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1884, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dub

• bub
• club
• cub
• grub
• hub
• nub
• pub
• rub
• scrub
• shrub
• snub
• stub

Kids Definition

dub

1 of 2 verb

ˈdəb 

dubbed; dubbing

1

: to make a knight of

2

: name entry 2 sense 1

dub

2 of 2 verb

dubbed; dubbing

: to add sound effects or new dialogue to a film or broadcast

Medical Definition

DUB

abbreviation

dysfunctional uterine bleeding