entitle

verb

en·​ti·​tle in-ˈtī-tᵊl How to pronounce entitle (audio)
en-
entitled; entitling in-ˈtī-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce entitle (audio)
-ˈtīt-liŋ,
en-

transitive verb

1
: to give a title to : designate
2
: to furnish with proper grounds for seeking or claiming something
this ticket entitles the bearer to free admission

Examples of entitle in a Sentence

He entitled his book “My Life on Mars.” the card entitles my grandmother to the discount for senior citizens
Recent Examples on the Web While he is entitled to the presumption of innocence, serving in public office is a privilege that demands a higher standard of conduct. Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2023 He’s entitled to the presumption of innocence and will have his day in court. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2023 According to previous court documents which referenced the prenup, the former model was entitled to around $1.5 million. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2023 Households will be entitled to receive four free rapid tests apiece, with ordering at COVIDtests.gov opening on Sept. 25. Helen Branswell and Rachel Cohrs, STAT, 20 Sep. 2023 Certainly, Hewson is not entitled enough to be confused as to why there should be hubbub around her entitlement. Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2023 No president is a king, but every president is a (US) citizen entitled to the protections and rights guaranteed by the US Constitution. Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2023 Simple math indicates that 10 beds per day all year long means that this level of service allocation entitles Vista residents to use 3,650 bed days at network shelters. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023 Where the Big Three master agreement has entitled the latter to an extra $1 in profit-sharing for every $1 million the company makes, GM Subsystems employees get just 25 cents. Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 13 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'entitle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French entitler, from Late Latin intitulare, from Latin in- + titulus title

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of entitle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near entitle

Cite this Entry

“Entitle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entitle. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

entitle

verb
en·​ti·​tle in-ˈtīt-ᵊl How to pronounce entitle (audio)
entitled; entitling -ˈtīt-liŋ How to pronounce entitle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to give a title to
2
: to give a right to : qualify
the card entitles us to a discount
entitlement
-ᵊl-mənt
noun

Legal Definition

entitle

transitive verb
en·​ti·​tle
entitled; entitling
: to give an enforceable right to claim something

More from Merriam-Webster on entitle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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