name someone

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   To say officially who a person is or what they have done.

   Grammar: Used with an object: name someone as the winner, name someone in a report.

   Patterns

   • name someone as something
   • name someone in something
   • be named as something

   The judge named her as the winner of the competition.

   Police have not yet named the driver involved in the crash.

   He was named in the report as the person responsible.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   To choose a person for a job or position and announce the choice.

   Grammar: The person comes after name, and the job often follows as: name someone as manager.

   Patterns

   • name someone as something
   • name someone to something

   The board named her as the new chief executive.

   They named him to the committee last week.

   After months of searching, the school named a new head teacher.

3. 3phrasefixed phrase

   To mention a person's name in a conversation or piece of writing.

   Grammar: Often used when someone is mentioned as an example or in a list.

   Patterns

   • name someone in something
   • name someone among something

   She named several colleagues who had helped her.

   Don't name anyone in the article unless they agree.

   He was named among the best young players in the country.

Common combinations

name names

The witness refused to name names in open court.

name someone as a suspect

The police named him as a suspect in the robbery.

name someone in a will

She named her niece in her will.

name someone after someone

They named their son after his grandfather.

be named for something

The award is named for a famous scientist.

Synonyms and how they differ

identify

Focuses on recognizing who someone is, not on announcing the name publicly.

appoint

Means to choose someone for a job; it stresses the decision rather than the announcement.

mention

Simply refers to saying a name; it does not suggest an official statement.

Word family

namesake noun

A person or thing named after someone else.

naming noun

The act of giving a name or announcing one.

Commonly confused: name someone or nominate?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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