To save this word, you'll need to log in.
du·al | \ ˈdü(-ə)l 
also ˈdyü-əl \
also ˈdyü-əl \Definition of dual
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 of grammatical number : denoting reference to two
a dual pronoun
2a : consisting of two parts or elements or having two like parts : double families with dual incomes held dual citizenship in France and the U.S. a dual function a dual exhaust system
b : having a double character or nature
dual
nounDefinition of dual (Entry 2 of 2)
2 linguistics : a linguistic form in the dual
Keep scrolling for more
Examples of dual in a Sentence
Adjective
the dual purpose of the study
She pursued dual careers in music and acting.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The two remaining bedrooms share a bathroom with dual sinks.
—
Mary Grace Granados, Dallas News, "No, it’s not floating, but this three-bedroom Dallas home with windows everywhere gives that illusion," 11 July 2020 Defense Department medical facilities also are accepting some dual-status veteran-civilian patients from surrounding communities.
—
Sig Christenson, ExpressNews.com, "Feds turn down plea to open BAMC to civilian COVID care," 10 July 2020 The Roosevelt continued on its mission, training on June 21 with the USS Nimitz in the Navy’s first dual-carrier exercise in the Western Pacific in three years.
—
USA TODAY, "Navy carrier sidelined by coronavirus returns home to San Diego," 10 July 2020 Analyst Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center, said the dual-carrier exercise in the South China Sea was designed to send a message to Beijing.
—
Brad Lendon, Ivan Watson And Rebecca Wright, CNN, "US admirals in South China Sea: Everyone wears a mask," 8 July 2020 Out back, is a more prominent rear diffuser and a dual-exit exhaust.
—
Connor Hoffman, Car and Driver, "2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line Looks Perfectly Aggressive," 8 July 2020 The device has vacuum tube configurability and has options for single or dual-tube collection.
—
al, "Auburn supports new program to create safer alternative for COVID-19 testing," 8 July 2020 New dual-pane windows and a roof were installed in 2017.
—
oregonlive, "Rural properties for sale in Oregon: Living outside the city during the coronavirus:," 4 July 2020 Hong Kong is especially ripe for a mass exodus given its sizable population of dual passport holders.
—
Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, "Hong Kongers are suddenly the world’s most sought-after emigrants," 3 July 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Things became worse when 20 Indian soldiers were reportedly killed in a dual on the Chinese border in Galwan Valley.
—
Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, "Some Indians are smashing Chinese smartphones in protest—others can’t stop buying them," 22 June 2020 The girls tennis team lost to Homestead, 4-3, in the state final in a dual that wasn’t decided until the final match, which went three sets.
—
Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brookfield East's strong fall sports showing laid the foundation for school of the year honors," 5 June 2020 The Cowboys just missed out on the state duals tournament, finishing as regional runner-up.
—
Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati.com, "Announcing the 2019-20 Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky High School Winter All-Stars," 22 Apr. 2020 Melrose beat Wakefield in the duals finals on Feb. 8 and then by 44.5 points for the Division 3 North title.
—
Brandon Chase, BostonGlobe.com, "Day 1 carries weight in high school divisional wrestling championships," 21 Feb. 2020 In the finals Sunday night, Graham couldn’t win its eighth straight duals title.
—
cleveland, "Aurora falls short of upsetting St. Paris Graham in semifinals of OHSAA Division II state duals wrestling," 17 Feb. 2020 Here are qualifiers winners in order of first and second place as well as their duals record this season, according to trackwrestling.com
Sec.
—
Dana Scott, azcentral, "High school girls wrestling sectionals I - VIII: Who qualified for the state tournament?," 1 Feb. 2020 Glenelg, winners of four straight region duals titles, and Oakland Mills moved from the 2A South region to the tougher 2A West.
—
Tim Schwartz, baltimoresun.com, "Parity becoming the norm in most Baltimore-area varsity wrestling title races as talent pool swells," 7 Dec. 2019 Saturday, Quad meet at Braintree High with Walpole, Brookline, and Lawrence, 10 a.m. — Brookline, undefeated in the Bay State Conference, will wrestle Walpole and Braintree in league duals with the conference title still up for grabs.
—
Brandon Chase, BostonGlobe.com, "Brookline wasting no time staying ascendant in Bay State Conference," 24 Jan. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dual.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for dual
dual
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of dual
: having two different parts, uses, etc.
: having two of something
See the full definition for dual in the English Language Learners Dictionary
dual
adjectivedu·al | \ ˈdü-əl , ˈdyü- \
, ˈdyü- \Kids Definition of dual
1 : having two different parts or aspects
Trees have a dual function of providing beauty and shade.
2 : having two like parts
The car has dual airbags.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on dual
What made you want to look up dual? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Words for Summer: A Quiz
- Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Words for Summer: A Quiz
Test your knowledge of words related to the season of longer days and vacations.
Take the quiz - A More Exception(al) Quiz
Which of these things doesn't belong?
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Dictionary Devil
The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?
Play the game
Share dual
Time Traveler for dual
The first known use of dual was in 1597
See more words from the same year