name Uncommon

Macbeth

muhk-BEHTH

Macbeth (name) means a tragedy by William Shakespeare about a Scottish nobleman driven by ambition and prophecy to murder his way to the throne. Example: “The drama class is putting on Macbeth this spring.”

name

A tragedy by William Shakespeare about a Scottish nobleman driven by ambition and prophecy to murder his way to the throne.

"The drama class is putting on Macbeth this spring."

The play's title character, a Scottish general who becomes king through murder and is eventually overthrown.

"Macbeth is haunted by guilt after killing King Duncan."

How to use Macbeth

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBest known as Shakespeare's play about ambition, guilt, and a Scottish king's downfall.

Common pairings

perform Macbeth the tragedy of Macbeth

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “Macbeth” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The drama class is putting on _____ this spring.

Etymology

From the Middle Irish name Mac Bethad, meaning "son of life."

Origin: Irish

Frequently asked questions

What does “Macbeth” mean?

The word “Macbeth” means a tragedy by William Shakespeare about a Scottish nobleman driven by ambition and prophecy to murder his way to the throne. In plain terms, best known as Shakespeare's play about ambition, guilt, and a Scottish king's downfall.

How do you pronounce “Macbeth”?

“Macbeth” is pronounced muhk-BEHTH (/məkˈbɛθ/ in IPA).

How do you use “Macbeth” in a sentence?

Here is “Macbeth” used in a sentence: “The drama class is putting on Macbeth this spring.”

What part of speech is “Macbeth”?

“Macbeth” is a name.

Where does the word “Macbeth” come from?

The word “Macbeth” comes from Irish. From the Middle Irish name Mac Bethad, meaning "son of life.".

Is “Macbeth” a common word?

“Macbeth” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Macbeth” have?

“Macbeth” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tragedy by William Shakespeare about a Scottish nobleman driven by ambition and prophecy to murder his way to the throne.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include Macbeth:

Words with Celtic origins