titles
titles — noun
- titlessingular
- titlesesplural
1. The individual names that creators give to books, films, songs, paintings, and o
The individual names that creators give to books, films, songs, paintings, and other works, so that people can identify and refer to each work separately.
The bookshop had a display of new fiction titles from Asian authors.
new fiction titles — recently published novels
Whenever her old playlist shuffled on, Nadia could not remember half the song titles from her childhood.
song titles from her childhood — names of songs associated with early memories
The festival programme listed film titles from twelve different countries.
film titles — names of movies listed in a programme
Kwame asked the librarian to recommend titles about African history.
- fiction titles
- film titles
- song titles
- list of titles
- award-winning titles
Grammar Patterns
titles of + noun phrase (books, films, songs)
Common Mistakes
2. The written credits that appear at the opening or closing of a motion picture or
The written credits that appear at the opening or closing of a motion picture or television broadcast, naming the people who contributed to its production.
The opening titles used stylised animation against a jazz soundtrack.
opening titles — credits at the beginning of a film
Anika stayed in her seat through the closing titles to see the director's name.
Lotte stayed in her seat through the end titles to find out where the film was shot.
end titles — credits appearing at the end of a film showing production details
The film's titles were designed by a famous graphic artist in Tokyo.
- opening titles
- closing titles
- end titles
- title sequence
- title music
- main titles
- credits
interchangeable with 'titles' in this sense; 'credits' is the more general term, while 'titles' specifically refers to the on-screen text presentation.
Grammar Patterns
the titles
opening titles
closing titles
end titles
Usage Note
This sense is almost always used in the plural ('the titles', 'opening titles', 'closing titles'). The singular 'title' is not used to mean a single credit line; instead, the whole block is referred to as 'titles'.
Common Mistakes
3. Books, journals, or other published materials, considered as separate products a
Books, journals, or other published materials, considered as separate products available for sale or in a collection.
The university press releases around forty new academic titles every year.
academic titles — scholarly books published by a university press
Jisoo borrowed six digital titles from the library app, including a novel and a travel guide.
digital titles — electronic books or publications available for borrowing
Kenji browsed the cookery section and picked out three new vegetarian titles.
Small publishers struggle to compete when a major title from a big house gets a six-figure marketing budget.
major title from a big house — an important book from a large publisher
- academic titles
- new titles
- digital titles
- print titles
- backlist titles
- forthcoming titles
- publication
more formal; often used in academic and legal contexts. 'Publication' emphasises the act of making something public, while 'title' focuses on it as a product.
- volume
used especially for numbered or bound books in a series; narrower than 'title'.
Grammar Patterns
academic titles
new titles
digital titles
backlist titles
Usage Note
In this sense, 'title' refers to the entire publication as a distinct product — not just its name. 'We published three titles this year' means three separate books, not three names for one book.
Common Mistakes
4. The first-place position in a sports competition, achieved by defeating all othe
The first-place position in a sports competition, achieved by defeating all other players or teams; a championship.
The young gymnast has won three national titles in the past two years.
win + national titles — achieve first place in country-level competitions
Sofia successfully defended her world title against a strong challenger from Brazil.
The football club has not won a major title since their victory in 2009.
major title — an important championship
Diego collected five swimming titles at the regional championships last summer.
- win a title
- defend a title
- lose a title
- world title
- national title
- title fight
- title match
- title holder
- championship
can refer both to the competition and the winning position; 'title' is more specific to the achieved rank.
- crown
informal, used especially in boxing and tennis; carries a more metaphorical tone.
- trophy
the physical object awarded, not the position itself.
Grammar Patterns
win + title
defend + title
world title
major title
Usage Note
Common in sports journalism and broadcasting. 'Title' is often used interchangeably with 'championship', but 'title' emphasises the recognition and honour of being champion, while 'championship' can also refer to the competition itself.
5. The legal right to own a piece of land, a building, a vehicle, or similar proper
The legal right to own a piece of land, a building, a vehicle, or similar property, often confirmed by an official document such as a deed or certificate.
Vehicle titles must be transferred to the new owner when a car is sold.
vehicle titles — official ownership documents for cars
Amir's lawyer checked the property titles for outstanding legal claims on the house.
The bank holds the title to the apartment until the mortgage is fully repaid.
hold the title to — have legal ownership of property
Disputes over land titles can take years to resolve in court.
- property title
- land title
- vehicle title
- title to the land
- hold title
- transfer title
- clear title
- title deed
Grammar Patterns
title to + noun (property, land, vehicle)
hold title
transfer title
clear title
Usage Note
Frequently uncountable when referring to the abstract right ('They have title to the land') and countable when referring to the document itself ('The files contain all the property titles').
Common Mistakes
6. Words or phrases that indicate a person's rank, job position, academic achieveme
Words or phrases that indicate a person's rank, job position, academic achievement, or social status, such as 'Professor', 'Dr.', 'King', or 'Manager'.
The list of guests at the palace included several dignitaries with titles such as Earl and Viscount.
titles such as Earl and Viscount — ranks of nobility shown on a guest list
In many modern companies, job titles no longer reflect the actual work people do.
Emma earned the title of Senior Analyst after five years with the firm.
earned the title of — achieved a professional rank
The mayor presented honorary titles to the longest-serving volunteers at the ceremony.
presented honorary titles — formally gave recognition titles
- job title
- professional title
- title of nobility
- hereditary title
- earn a title
- bestow a title
- bear a title
- rank
focuses on position within a hierarchy, especially military; 'title' is broader and includes honorary and professional designations.
- designation
more formal; used for official roles in organisations.
- honorific
specifically a term of respect (e.g., 'Dr.', 'Sir', 'Your Honour'); narrower than 'title'.
Grammar Patterns
title of + rank/nobility
job title
professional title
hereditary title
Common Mistakes
7. A descriptive heading that identifies a section, chapter, or division within a w
A descriptive heading that identifies a section, chapter, or division within a written document, law, or formal report.
The report is divided into seven major titles covering different policy areas.
divided into [number] titles — document organised under headings
Each title of the contract deals with a separate part of the agreement.
The legal code groups related offences under titles such as Property Crimes and Public Order.
under titles such as — organised by named sections
Henry scanned the chapter titles to find the section on renewable energy.
- chapter title
- section title
- under the title of
- title of a statute
- title of a code
Grammar Patterns
title of a chapter/section
under the title of
Usage Note
Frequently used in legal and academic writing. In legislative contexts, 'Title' often refers to a major division of a code or statute (e.g., 'Title VII of the Civil Rights Act').
Common Mistakes
titles — verb
- titlespresent simple I / you / we / they
- titleses3rd person singular
- titlesing-ing form
- titlesedpast simple
1. To give a particular name to a creative work such as a book, film, painting, or
To give a particular name to a creative work such as a book, film, painting, or piece of music.
The artist titled his painting 'Reykjavik' after a trip to Iceland, and titled earlier works after other capital cities.
titled [work] after [place] — naming a creative work in reference to a location
Olivia titled her debut novel 'The Night Garden' after her grandmother's backyard.
The film is titled after the small town where the story takes place.
passive: is titled after — named in reference to something
The photographer titled her urban series 'Resilience' and her nature series 'Roots' — each with a single powerful word.
titled [series] [name] — naming a collection of works with a concise label
- title a book/film/painting
- titled after
- titled something
- be titled
- call
less formal; used in everyday conversation ('They called the album Midnight').
- name
can be used for people, pets, and things; 'title' is specific to creative works and official designations.
- entitle
slightly more formal; 'entitle' is often used in the passive ('entitled...'), but some style guides prefer 'titled'.
Grammar Patterns
titles + noun phrase + noun phrase complement
be titled + name
Usage Note
The passive form ('be titled') is very common. The active form ('The author titles his work...') is less frequent in everyday speech, where 'call' or 'name' is more typical.
Common Mistakes
titles — adjective
- titlespositive
- more titlescomparative
- most titlessuperlative
1. Belonging to or forming part of the name of a creative work — for example, the t
Belonging to or forming part of the name of a creative work — for example, the title page of a book or the title song of an album.
The title page lists the author, the publisher, and the year of publication.
title page — the page at the front of a book showing its name
The title page shows the name of the book and the author.
title page — the front page of a book with the main details
The title page of each book in the series features a different shade of the author's signature blue.
title page — the page at the front of a book that lists its name and author
The book's title page carries a dedication that the author wrote to her late mother.
title page — the front page of a book that may also contain a dedication
- title page
- title verso
- title logo
Grammar Patterns
title + noun
Usage Note
This adjectival use is always written as 'title' (not 'titles') even when modifying a plural noun ('title pages', 'title logos').
Common Mistakes
2. Describing a song, role, story, or other element within a larger work that share
Describing a song, role, story, or other element within a larger work that shares its name with that larger production.
The title track of the album became the biggest hit of the summer.
title track — a song that has the same name as the album
Mei was delighted to land the title role in a new stage production of Cinderella.
title role — the character whose name is the name of the play or film
The title story in the collection won a national literary award.
The band's debut single became the title track of their first album.
- title track
- title role
- title song
- title character
- title story
Grammar Patterns
title + noun (track, role, song, story)
3. Describing a sports contest or event in which the winner will become the champio
Describing a sports contest or event in which the winner will become the champion or where a championship is at stake.
The boxer trained for six months before the title fight in Las Vegas.
title fight — a boxing match for the championship
Fans packed the stadium for the title match between the two rival teams.
The title game drew a record television audience across the country.
The title fight was scheduled for twelve rounds at the indoor arena near Seoul.
title fight — a boxing or martial arts match for a championship
- title fight
- title match
- title bout
- title game
- title contest
Grammar Patterns
title + noun (fight, match, bout, game)
Usage Note
Always attributive (before a noun). 'Title fight' is the most common collocation, especially in combat sports like boxing and mixed martial arts.
4. Describing the opening or closing segment of a film or TV programme that display
Describing the opening or closing segment of a film or TV programme that displays the names of the cast and production crew, often accompanied by music or visuals.
The title sequence uses slow-motion footage of the main character walking through the city.
title sequence — the opening segment of a film or series showing credits
The title music was composed by a famous orchestra from Vienna.
Each episode of the series has a different title card showing the guest actors.
The title designer won an award for the animated opening credits.
- title sequence
- title music
- title card
- title design
Grammar Patterns
title + noun (sequence, music, card)
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/4
All four words can describe a competitive achievement, but they differ in focus. 'Title' emphasises the official rank of being champion — the recognition that you are the best — and is the most common term in team and individual sports journalism ('He won three major titles this year'). 'Championship' can mean either the competition itself or the winning position; it is broader and often refers to the event rather than the honour ('The championship starts next week'). 'Crown' is an informal, metaphor-rich term used especially in boxing, tennis, and beauty pageants to evoke the image of royalty ('She regained the crown after a two-year break'). 'Trophy' and 'medal' refer to the physical objects awarded for a win, not the status of champion — you can win a medal without being the overall champion (e.g., bronze). For learners: use 'title' when discussing the top position in a league or tournament, 'championship' for the event itself, and 'trophy/medal' only when referring to the actual prize.
Common collocations
Nouns
- title page
- title role
- title track
- title fight
- title sequence
- title holder
- title deed
Adverbs
- proudly titled
- officially titled
- simply titled
- appropriately titled
Phrases
- under the title of
- go by the title of
- hold the title to
- bear the title of
- win a title
- defend a title
Prepositions
- title to (property)
- title of (a work/rank/section)
Etymology
The word 'title' entered English through Old French 'title' from Latin 'titulus', which meant an inscription, label, or sign. In medieval Europe, 'titulus' was used for the nameplate on a tomb or the heading of a legal document. By the 14th century, English had adopted it for the name of a book or a person's rank. The plural form 'titles' developed its specialised film-credit sense in the early 20th century alongside the rise of cinema, and the sports-championship meaning emerged in the late 1800s as organised competitions became popular.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 10b Verb