entitled to

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   Having a legal or official right to something.

   Grammar: Followed by a noun or an -ing form: entitled to compensation, entitled to claim.

   Patterns

   • entitled to something
   • entitled to do something

   You are entitled to a full refund if the product is faulty.

   All employees are entitled to take at least twenty days of paid leave.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   Having a moral or natural right to something.

   Grammar: Often used with 'feel': feel entitled to something.

   Patterns

   • feel entitled to something
   • be entitled to something

   After working overtime for months, she felt entitled to a break.

   Some people believe they are entitled to special treatment because of their wealth.

Common combinations

entitled to a refund

If the train is cancelled, passengers are entitled to a refund.

entitled to compensation

Workers injured on the job are entitled to compensation.

feel entitled to

He feels entitled to use the company car whenever he wants.

entitled to vote

Citizens over eighteen are entitled to vote in the election.

Synonyms and how they differ

eligible for

Eligible for means you meet the conditions to receive something, but it does not always imply a right.

qualified for

Qualified for focuses on having the needed skills or status, not on a legal right.

deserving of

Deserving of is about merit, while entitled to is about a right.

Opposites

Word family

entitle verb

To give someone the right to have or do something.

entitlement noun

The right to have or receive something, or a belief that one deserves special treatment.

Commonly confused: entitled to or titled?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “entitled to”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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