title
title — noun
1. the name chosen for a creative work such as a book, a film, a painting, or a pie
the name chosen for a creative work such as a book, a film, a painting, or a piece of music, used to identify it to the public.
The title of Daichi's latest novel is "The Paper Garden."
title of + [creative work]
Élise could not remember the title of the song playing on the radio.
The gallery placed a small card next to each painting showing its title.
Before he wrote anything else, Kabir always chose the title for his short stories.
choose the title for
Yuna asked the librarian to search for the book by its title.
- book title
- film title
- song title
- title page
- title track
Grammar Patterns
title of + noun phrase
Usage Note
You can use 'title' with 'of' to name the work: 'the title of the film'. For the work itself, use 'entitled' or 'called': 'a book entitled Winter Light.'
Common Mistakes
2. the written list of cast and crew names that appears near the start or after the
the written list of cast and crew names that appears near the start or after the end of a cinema or TV production, identifying everyone involved in making it.
Asher stayed in the cinema until the titles finished rolling.
the titles (plural for credits sequence)
The opening titles of the drama showed the actors' names against a city skyline.
opening titles
Mira spotted her cousin's name in the closing titles of the documentary.
The production company added a special animation to the title sequence of the show.
- opening titles
- closing titles
- title sequence
- title music
- title card
- credits
the most common everyday word for the list of names at the end.
- credit roll
emphasises the scrolling movement of the names.
Grammar Patterns
the titles
closing titles
opening titles
Usage Note
This sense is almost always used in the plural ('titles') or as part of a compound like 'opening titles' or 'title sequence'. Singular 'title' would not refer to the credits list.
Common Mistakes
3. a published item such as a book or magazine, thought of as one complete product
a published item such as a book or magazine, thought of as one complete product rather than as an individual copy.
The publisher released twenty new titles in the spring catalogue.
new titles (published works)
Defne borrowed three titles from the library for her research project.
That small press only prints about five titles each year.
The award for best children's title went to a picture book about ocean animals.
Sade checked the list of recommended titles before ordering books for the class.
recommended titles
- new title
- backlist title
- publish a title
- children's title
- bestselling title
- publication
more formal and broader; can include journals, reports, and online content.
- volume
suggests a single physical book, often one of a set or series.
- work
very broad; can refer to any creative or intellectual product.
Grammar Patterns
a title
publish a title
Usage Note
Common in publishing, library, and retail contexts. You might see 'backlist titles' (older books still in print) or 'frontlist titles' (newly published books).
4. a label placed just ahead of someone's name indicating their rank, profession, e
a label placed just ahead of someone's name indicating their rank, profession, education level, or marital status — for example, 'Dr.', 'Professor', or 'Ms.'
Please write your full name and title on the registration form.
Mayumi addressed the envelope to "Dr. Christopher Nolan" because he did not know his title.
title + last name pattern
In many cultures, professional titles like "Professor" are used even in casual conversation.
The queen received the official title "Head of the Commonwealth" after the ceremony.
official title
Ignacio was unsure whether to use "Mr." or "Dr." on the invitation.
- official title
- professional title
- use a title
- title page
- courtesy title
Grammar Patterns
title + last name
use a title
Usage Note
Titles of address include 'Mr.', 'Mrs.', 'Ms.', 'Miss', 'Dr.', 'Professor', 'Sir', 'Lord', and military ranks such as 'Captain'. 'Ms.' is used regardless of marital status.
Common Mistakes
5. the position gained by defeating every other participant in a contest or sports
the position gained by defeating every other participant in a contest or sports event, marking you as the top performer.
The young tennis player won her first national title at the age of sixteen.
win a title
The team has not lost a title match at home in three years.
title match
Tariro defended her swimming title for the third year in a row.
defend a title
Fans packed the stadium to watch the title fight between the two boxers.
Eliska's dream is to compete for the world title in gymnastics one day.
world title
- win a title
- defend a title
- title match
- title fight
- world title
- league title
- championship
can also refer to the competition itself, not just the winning position.
- crown
more informal and metaphorical, common in journalism.
Grammar Patterns
win a title
defend a title
title match
Usage Note
Often combined with the sport or event name: 'world title', 'league title', 'title fight'. The verb 'defend' is frequently used when a champion tries to keep the title.
Common Mistakes
6. the legally recognised right to own property such as land or a house, or the off
the legally recognised right to own property such as land or a house, or the official papers that prove this ownership.
The lawyer confirmed that Kabir held the title to the farm in the north.
hold the title to [property]
Before buying the apartment, Esme asked to see the title deeds at the lawyer's office.
title deeds
A dispute over the title of the building delayed the sale for several months.
The bank would not approve the loan until the title search was complete.
title search
- title to property
- hold title
- title deed
- title search
- clear title
- legal title
Grammar Patterns
title to + noun phrase
title of + noun phrase
Usage Note
Frequently used in legal and real-estate contexts. 'Title' as ownership is uncountable ('they have title to the land'), while 'title deeds' or 'a title document' refers to the physical papers.
7. a name or heading given to a section, chapter, or part of a written document, su
a name or heading given to a section, chapter, or part of a written document, such as a law or a book chapter.
The title of Chapter Three is "Criminal Procedure and Evidence."
title of a chapter
Every section of the report needs a clear title at the top.
The lawyer referred to Title IV of the Civil Code during the hearing.
Madison scanned the table of contents and read each chapter title before choosing one.
The legislative bill was organised under the title "Public Health and Safety Standards."
- chapter title
- section title
- title page
- title of the act
Grammar Patterns
title of + noun phrase
Usage Note
In legal documents, 'Title' (capitalised) is a standard division level, larger than a section and smaller than a part. In general writing, 'title' overlaps with 'heading' for chapters and sections.
title — verb
1. to give a name to a creative work such as a book, film, song, or painting.
to give a name to a creative work such as a book, film, song, or painting.
The director titled her film "The Last Light" after a poem she loved.
title + [work] + [name]
The photographer titled the series of portraits "Faces of the Market."
Yuna titled her first album after the street where she grew up.
The play was titled "The Garden Party" and it opened to a full house.
passive: be titled
Asher carefully titled each chapter of his travel book with a place name.
- be titled
- title a book
- title a film
- title a chapter
Grammar Patterns
title + noun + noun phrase
be titled + noun phrase
Usage Note
Almost always used with a following name in quotation marks or as a complement. The passive form ('the book is titled...') is very common.
Common Mistakes
2. to describe or address someone or something using a particular name, word, or ra
to describe or address someone or something using a particular name, word, or rank.
The committee titled her the new director of research at the university.
title + [person] + [rank]
Newspapers titled the young musician "the voice of a generation."
The village elders titled him the keeper of traditional stories.
Historians titled the period "the Age of Discovery" in their textbooks.
- title someone something
- be titled as
Grammar Patterns
title + object + complement
be titled + noun phrase
Usage Note
This sense is less common than verb sense 1 and has a formal or literary tone. It is often used with a rank or descriptive phrase as the object complement.
title — adjective
1. describing a creative work that carries the identical name as the larger collect
describing a creative work that carries the identical name as the larger collection it belongs to — for example, a song whose name matches the album it appears on.
The title track of the album became a number-one hit within weeks.
title track (song with same name as album)
Kabir kept humming the title song from the musical all evening.
title song
The title character in the film is a young girl who can speak to animals.
title character
Critics praised the title role performance as the best of the season.
title role
The band released a single called "Moonstone" and the title cut on the same day.
- title track
- title song
- title role
- title character
- title cut
- eponymous
much more formal and less common; 'the eponymous song' means the same as 'the title track'.
Grammar Patterns
title + noun
Usage Note
Only used before a noun — never after a linking verb. Common phrases: 'title track' (music), 'title role' (theatre/film), 'title character' (literature/film).
Common Mistakes
2. relating to a competition or the position of being the champion.
relating to a competition or the position of being the champion.
The boxer prepared for months before the title bout at the arena.
title bout
Injuries forced the defending champion to withdraw from the title game.
title game
Defne watched every minute of the title decider on television.
title decider
The newspaper ran a special section covering the title race in Formula One.
Tariro celebrated her title victory with friends at the local cafe.
- title bout
- title fight
- title match
- title game
- title race
- title defence
- championship
can also be used attributively ('championship match') with the same meaning.
Grammar Patterns
title + noun
Usage Note
Always used before the noun it modifies. Common in sports journalism: 'title fight', 'title match', 'title defence', 'title challenger'.
3. relating to the opening or closing credits of a film or television programme.
relating to the opening or closing credits of a film or television programme.
The title music for the series was composed by a famous pianist.
title music
Sophisticated animation played during the title sequence of the sci-fi film.
title sequence
The title card appeared on screen just before the first scene began.
title card
Viewers recognised the show instantly from its title theme.
- title sequence
- title music
- title theme
- title card
- title design
- opening
shorter and less specific; 'the opening' can refer to the entire beginning of a film.
Grammar Patterns
title + noun
Usage Note
Always placed before a noun. 'Title sequence' refers to the visual segment at the start of a film showing credits; 'title music' is the music that plays during that segment.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
A 'title' is the specific name given to a creative work like a book, film, or song. 'Name' is far more general — people, pets, places, companies, and products all have names, not titles. 'Heading' is reserved for sections within a document, such as a chapter or paragraph. 'Label' is shorter and more practical: it identifies a product, a file, or a drawer, not a work of art. 'Caption' refers to explanatory text under a photograph or diagram, which is completely different. For example, 'The title of the novel is The Great Gatsby,' but 'The name of the author is F. Scott Fitzgerald,' and 'The chapter heading is "The Green Light." '
Common collocations
Nouns
- title page
- title role
- title track
- title deed
- title holder
- title fight
Adverbs
- originally titled
- simply titled
- appropriately titled
- fittingly titled
Phrases
- under the title
- in the title
- by the title of
Prepositions
- title of
- title to
- title for
Etymology
'Title' comes from Old French 'title' (modern French 'titre'), which traces back to Latin 'titulus', meaning an inscription, label, or placard. In Latin, 'titulus' was used for the nameplate on a tomb, the heading of a law, or a sign of honour. The sense of 'championship' developed in the mid-1800s, and the adjective uses (title track, title bout) followed in the 1900s.