naming

naming — verb

1. to give a person, animal, or thing a particular word or phrase that other people

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to give a person, animal, or thing a particular word or phrase that other people will use to identify them or it

例句

Christopher and Ayesha named their daughter Yumi after her Japanese grandmother.

name + object + noun complement (after someone)

The new library was named after a doctor who served the town for forty years.

同義詞
  • call

    less formal — used in everyday speech, while 'name' suggests an official or intentional act

  • christen

    specifically for babies in a religious ceremony, or informally for launching a ship or new object

  • dub

    informal or humorous — often used in news headlines ('The press dubbed him the Iron Man')

文法句型

name + object + (noun complement)

be named after / for someone

用法筆記

In British English, 'name after' is standard ('She was named after her aunt'). In American English, 'name for' is more common ('She was named for her aunt').

常見錯誤

❌They named their son as James.
✅They named their son James.
💡The name follows the verb directly without 'as'.
❌I named my car of my favourite singer.
✅I named my car after my favourite singer.
💡Use 'after' (BrE) or 'for' (AmE), not 'of'.

2. to say the name of a person, place, or thing, especially to show that you recogn

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to say the name of a person, place, or thing, especially to show that you recognise them or to provide a piece of information

例句

The witness was asked to name the person she saw near the bank.

passive: be asked to name + object

Rachid can name every mountain in the Himalayas from memory after studying maps for years.

can + name (ability to identify)

同義詞
  • identify

    broader — can mean recognising someone or something even without knowing the name

  • specify

    more formal — used when giving exact names in writing or official contexts

文法句型

name + object

can/could name + object

常見錯誤

❌Can you name me the capital of France?
✅Can you name the capital of France?
💡Unlike 'tell', the verb 'name' does not take an indirect object pronoun.

3. to officially choose a person for a particular job, position, or role in an orga

3.動詞及物B1
釋義

to officially choose a person for a particular job, position, or role in an organisation, team, or event

例句

The board named Nadia as the new head of the hospital's children's research team.

name + person + as + role

Eli was named captain of the school debating team after winning three competitions.

passive: be named + role (without 'as')

同義詞
  • appoint

    more formal — used for official professional positions, often through a formal process

  • designate

    very formal — often used for titles or roles that will begin at a future date

  • choose

    more general — can be informal or formal, not limited to official positions

反義詞
  • dismiss

    to officially remove someone from a position

  • fire

    informal — to force someone to leave a job

文法句型

name + object + (as) + role

be named + role

用法筆記

Common in news and formal announcements. The preposition 'as' is optional when the role follows directly ('named him captain' = 'named him as captain').

常見錯誤

❌They named him to the project leader.
✅They named him project leader.' or 'They named him as project leader.
💡The role follows the object directly or with 'as', not with 'to'.