Named

/neɪmd/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonAction
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To give a name to; to identify or designate.

/neɪmd/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To give a name to someone or something.

They named their daughter Emily.

💡 Simply: Imagine you have a new puppy. What's the first thing you do? You give it a name! 'Named' means you've decided what to call something, like your pet, a street, or even a star.

👶 For kids: To give something a special word to call it.

More Examples

2

The city was named after its founder.

3

Several artists were named as finalists in the competition.

How It's Used

General

"The baby was named after her grandmother."

Legal

"The defendant was named in the lawsuit."

2

Having a name, or specified by name.

/neɪmd/

adjectiveneutralmedium
Descriptive

Having a name; specified.

The named suspects were questioned by the police.

💡 Simply: If you have a list of people or things, and each one has a specific name, then those things are 'named.' For example, the 'named' ingredients in a recipe are the ones you write down.

👶 For kids: Having a name or special word.

More Examples

2

All named recipients must be present.

3

The named scholarships are for students of high merit.

How It's Used

General

"The named beneficiaries of the will received their inheritance."

Technical

"A named range in a spreadsheet makes it easier to reference data."

Tip:Think 'named' items on a list – they're identified individually.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

name and shame

To publicly identify and criticize someone or something for wrongdoing.

"The organization decided to name and shame companies that were polluting the environment."

by name

Giving the name of someone or something.

"The teacher called out each student by name."

From Old English *nemnan* 'to call by name', related to *nōma* 'name'.

The word 'named' has consistently been used in English for centuries to indicate a name or the act of giving one, reflecting its essential role in communication and identification.

Memory tip

Think of 'naming' a pet – it's the act of giving it an identity.

Word Origin

LanguageProto-Germanic
Original meaning

"to call, give a name"

named afternamed asnamed innamed personnamed company

Common misspellings

name'dnammed

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written