named
/neɪm/ (bre, ipa) · [nˈemd] /neɪm/ (ame, ipa)
named — verb
- namedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- nameds3rd person singular
- namedding-ing form
- nameddedpast simple
1. to give a person, animal, or thing a particular word or title that people will u
to give a person, animal, or thing a particular word or title that people will use to refer to them from then on
Roya and her husband named their baby daughter Amina after her grandmother.
name + object + complement [after + person]
The street was named after a famous local poet who lived there in the 1800s.
passive: be named after [person]
We named our new puppy Biscuit because of his golden-brown fur.
The scientists named the newly discovered beetle species after the forest where it was found.
Has the city council named the new park on the east side of town yet?
文法句型
name + object + complement
name + object
用法筆記
Often used with 'after' (British) or 'for' (American) to indicate who or what the name is chosen to honour. The object of 'name' is the person or thing receiving the name; the complement is the name itself.
常見錯誤
2. to say what the correct word is that identifies a person, thing, or place, often
to say what the correct word is that identifies a person, thing, or place, often in answer to a question
Rodrigo could name every country in Africa when he was just eight years old.
name + direct object of knowledge
The police asked the witness to name the person she had seen leaving the building.
name + object [person] in request
Can you name three things you would take to a desert island?
Wei named the different types of clouds during the science lesson at school.
The article named several companies that had broken the safety rules.
文法句型
name + object
name + wh-clause
常見錯誤
3. to choose someone officially to do a particular job or to fill a particular role
to choose someone officially to do a particular job or to fill a particular role within an organisation
The board named Iriana as the new head of the research department last Tuesday.
name + object + as + complement
Eitan was named captain of the school basketball team after the tryouts.
passive: be named + complement
The university named Professor David Chen to lead the new climate study programme.
The committee has not yet named a new director to replace the one who retired.
The restaurant owner named his eldest son manager of the kitchen staff.
- dismiss
to remove someone from a position
文法句型
name + object + complement
name + object + to-infinitive
be named + complement
用法筆記
The complement can be introduced by 'as' or follow the object directly (e.g. 'named him manager'). The passive form ('was named + role') is very common in news reports.
常見錯誤
named — noun
1. the word or group of words that people use when they talk about a specific perso
the word or group of words that people use when they talk about a specific person, animal, place, or object
Please write your full name at the top of the application form.
possessive + name
The name of the restaurant is written in gold letters above the door.
name of + [entity]
Ritu could not remember the name of the hotel where they had stayed.
The dog responded immediately when Jabari called out its name.
That flower has a very long Latin name that is hard to pronounce.
- title
used for books, films, songs, or formal positions rather than people
- label
a word on a product or object that tells you what it is
- designation
formal; an official name or title
文法句型
[possessive] + name
name + of + [place/person]
常見錯誤
2. the opinion that people in general have about someone or something, based on the
the opinion that people in general have about someone or something, based on their character or past actions
Camille worked very hard to make a name for herself in the fashion industry.
idiom: make a name for oneself
The hotel has a very good name among tourists who visit the region.
have a good/bad name
That politician's name was ruined after the corruption scandal broke.
The company is a market leader in name only — its actual sales are quite low.
Ravindra has a name for being honest and fair in all his business deals.
- reputation
more direct; the standard term for this meaning
- standing
refers to someone's position or status within a community
- fame
stronger; implies being known very widely
- obscurity
the state of being unknown or not famous
文法句型
make a name for oneself
in name only
of good/bad name
用法筆記
When used to mean 'reputation', 'name' is usually singular and often modified by an adjective such as 'good', 'bad', 'big', or 'household'.
常見錯誤
3. a person who is very well known and respected in a particular field or activity
a person who is very well known and respected in a particular field or activity
The conference featured several big names from the world of technology and design.
collocation: big name
All the biggest names in Hollywood attended the charity film premiere.
collocation: biggest name
David is one of the great names in modern architecture, with buildings all over Asia.
The gallery exhibits work from both established names and young up-and-coming artists.
Pim is a well-known name in the world of competitive cooking and has won several awards.
- celebrity
focuses on media fame rather than respected achievement
- figure
broader; can be famous or just important within a field
- household name
someone whose name is known by almost everyone
- nobody
informal; someone who is not famous at all
文法句型
[adjective] + name
big/great name
用法筆記
Commonly used in the plural ('names') to refer to multiple famous figures. Often appears with modifiers like 'big', 'great', 'famous', 'household'.
4. the group of people who share the same family or clan, especially those linked t
the group of people who share the same family or clan, especially those linked through the male line
The Tanaka name has been associated with that temple for more than three hundred years.
name as family/clan entity
She is the last person bearing the Okafor name, as she has no children to pass it on to.
bearing + name / pass on + name
In some cultures, the family name comes before the personal name in any written form.
The two branches of the family name split apart when the brothers moved to different cities.
文法句型
name + of + [family]
family name
用法筆記
This sense is more common in contexts discussing genealogy, inheritance, and cultural traditions around family lines. It overlaps with 'surname' or 'last name' in modern usage but carries a broader historical meaning of lineage.
5. an unkind or insulting word or phrase that people use to refer to someone in ord
an unkind or insulting word or phrase that people use to refer to someone in order to hurt or offend them
The children were told off by the teacher for calling each other rude names in the playground.
call + [someone] + names
Reuben did not let the cruel names the older boys shouted bother him one bit.
cruel names / bad names
A classmate called Wei a hurtful name about his accent, so the principal called his parents.
The politician was hurt by the names the media were calling him in the press.
文法句型
call + [someone] + names
用法筆記
Often found in the fixed expression 'call someone names', which does NOT mean to say someone's actual name — it means to insult them with rude words.
常見錯誤
named — adjective
- namedpositive
- nameddercomparative
- nameddestsuperlative
1. having a particular name or being referred to by a specific word that identifies
having a particular name or being referred to by a specific word that identifies who or what something is
A student named Wei won the first prize in the school science competition.
named + [personal name]
We stayed at a small hotel named the Blue Dolphin near the beach.
named + [place/thing name]
There is a park named after the former president on the north side of the city.
The cat, named Biscuit, slept on the sofa all afternoon.
文法句型
named + [name]
named + after/for
用法筆記
This is the past participle of the verb 'name' used as an adjective. It always follows the noun it describes or appears after 'be' (e.g. 'a boy named Reuben' or 'the boy is named Reuben'). Not used before the noun: ❌ 'the named boy Reuben'.
常見錯誤
2. having an established good reputation and being widely recognised for quality or
having an established good reputation and being widely recognised for quality or achievement in a particular area
Only a few named brands can charge such high prices for their products.
collocation: named brand
The restaurant serves only named wines from small family vineyards in France.
She wore a dress by a named designer that she had saved up for months to buy.
The gallery displays works by both named and unknown artists from around the world.
- famous
stronger; implies being known very widely, not just within a field
- renowned
more formal; suggests respect and admiration
- established
focuses on having a long-standing reputation rather than simply being well-known
文法句型
named + [noun]
well-named
用法筆記
Common in retail and media contexts to describe brands, designers, wines, or other products with a recognised reputation. 'Named' contrasts with 'generic' or 'unbranded'.
常見錯誤
3. describing a character or figure whose name appears in the title of a book, play
describing a character or figure whose name appears in the title of a book, play, film, or other creative work
Kristin Scott Thomas played the named role in the stage production of Hedda Gabler.
the named role
The named character in the novel is a young lawyer struggling with difficult moral choices.
In the film adaptation, the named part was played by an actor from South Korea.
The named hero of the story spends the whole book searching for his lost brother.
文法句型
named + [role]
the named + [production]
用法筆記
This is a specialised meaning used mainly in theatre, film, and literary criticism. It describes a character who gives their name to the work — for example, Hamlet in 'Hamlet' or Emma in 'Emma'.
4. featuring or including many well-known and famous people, especially in an event
featuring or including many well-known and famous people, especially in an event, show, or production
Only named guests were invited to the exclusive after-party at the film festival.
collocation: named guests (VIP/celebrity guests)
The restaurant brought in a named chef from Paris to redesign the menu.
collocation: named chef (celebrity chef)
The summit attracted named speakers from around the world, including two former heads of state.
The museum gala was a named affair that drew celebrities and art collectors alike.
- star-studded
more common and vivid; implies many celebrities
- glittering
suggests glamour and excitement around the famous attendees
- low-key
small and not attracting much public attention
文法句型
named + [event/lineup]
用法筆記
Less common than synonyms like 'star-studded' or 'glittering'. This sense typically modifies nouns for people ('guests', 'chefs', 'speakers') or events ('gala', 'affair'). The context must make clear that 'named' refers to the celebrity status of those involved, not simply to being listed or designated.