names
- 1Plural of name.
The teacher read the names aloud before the test began.
Several street names changed after the town was renamed.
Note
A plural that carries every meaning of its singular, not just the labels on a list. Names can be reputations, people themselves, families, or insults: a register of names, a firm with good names behind it, and the names shouted in a quarrel all use this one form. The same spelling also serves as the present-tense verb. The noun is the one that follows an article or takes a plural verb (the names are listed).
- 2Third-person singular simple present indicative of name.
The director names a different lead actor for each season.
Whoever finds the comet first names it.
Note
The verb form that goes with a singular subject: she names, the committee names. Unlike its spelling twin, the plural noun, it always needs an object. With two, it gives a name (she names the ship Endeavour). With one, it can mention, accuse or appoint: the report names the officials involved, and the board names a new chair. Context decides which.
Showing meanings only.
names is a form of name
name, noun: A word, phrase, or string of characters by which a particular person, place, thing, class, or other entity is known or identified. Full entry
- Forms
- namenames plural
- Spelling
- name → names: add -s
- Sound
- The ending sounds like /z/.
Use it in a sentence
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