overdub

1 of 2

noun

over·​dub ˈō-vər-ˌdəb How to pronounce overdub (audio)
1
: the act or an instance of overdubbing
2
: recorded sound that is overdubbed
vocal overdubs

overdub

2 of 2

verb

over·​dub ˌō-vər-ˈdəb How to pronounce overdub (audio)
overdubbed; overdubbing; overdubs

transitive verb

: to transfer (recorded sound) onto a recording that bears sound recorded earlier in order to produce a combined effect

Examples of overdub in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Far from completing the album in the druggy haze of a French basement, the band spent six months on overdubs at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, where Jagger contributed many of his vocals. Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026 Farr recorded the album on vintage TASCAM multi-track recorders and did his overdubs on reel-to-reel tape, a finicky process that stretches the tape and imbues the music with the ghosts of previous takes. Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
There's nothing wrong with using instruments and having one person overdub a bunch of things. Allaire Nuss, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025 And while many movies overdub singing scenes with a studio version of a song, what viewers hear in Highest 2 Lowest is her on-set recording. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overdub

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overdub was circa 1965

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Cite this Entry

“Overdub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdub. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

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