Word of the Day: Name
You probably know the meaning of this word already, but pay attention to all the different ways in which it is used. A name is a word or a title that a person or a thing goes by:
- What’s your name?
- Who named you that?
- Were you named after someone in your family?
- What’s your last name?
- Do you go by any other name?
- Do you have a nickname?
- We named our son “Martin,” after Martin Luther King Jr.
- How many different states in the United States are you able to name?
- Can you name the capital of Germany?
- What’s the name of this place?
When this word is used as a verb, it means to appoint a person to a position or identify someone for special recognition.
- Ted was named top salesperson of the month.
- The person named to fill the position of CEO comes from outside the company.
- Who will be named manager of the team?
There are many expressions and phrases that include the word “name.”
- I don’t have a penny to my name. (I’m broke.)
- Stop calling names! (Stop insulting someone.)
- The police are asking residents to start naming names. (name names = give names of people)
- He’s the president of the company in name only. (in name only = a title without authority)
- They don’t want to do anything that would spoil their good name. (good name = reputation)
- She’s a name-dropper. (She lets other people know whom she knows. I was having lunch the other day with my good friend, Jennifer Lopez, and she said….)
The word “namely” is similar to “mainly” or “specifically.”
- There are many good sources for fresh water in the Midwest, coming namely from the Great Lakes region, underground aquifers, and the rivers that run through the area.
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with N page to see the list of all words starting with letter N. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
