adj
Very common
called
kawld
Called (adj) means Named or referred to in a particular way. Example: “A man called Peter answered the door.”
adj
1
Named or referred to in a particular way.
"A man called Peter answered the door."
"We stayed in a small village called Hartley near the coast."
"She adopted a grey cat called Smudge from the shelter."
How to use called
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past tense/adjective form of "call," used to say what something is named.
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Synonyms
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Rhymes for called
See all rhymes for called →Frequently asked questions
What does “called” mean?
The word “called” means named or referred to in a particular way. In plain terms, the past tense/adjective form of "call," used to say what something is named.
How do you pronounce “called”?
“Called” is pronounced kawld (/kɔld/ in IPA).
How do you use “called” in a sentence?
Here is “called” used in a sentence: “A man called Peter answered the door.”
What part of speech is “called”?
“Called” is an adjective.
Is “called” a common word?
“Called” is a very common word in modern English.
What is the difference between 'called' and 'named'?
The two are often interchangeable, but there is a subtle difference. 'Named' tends to refer to the official name someone or something was given — 'a boy named Thomas'. 'Called' refers to the name people actually use, which may differ — 'a boy named Thomas but called Tom'. In practice both are common.
What is an example of 'called' meaning named?
You might say 'a village called Hope', 'a dog called Rex', or 'a book called Middlemarch'. In each case 'called' introduces the name by which the person, place, or thing is known. It answers the question 'what is it called?' rather than describing what it is like.
Is being 'called' something the same as a nickname?
Not always. 'Called' simply states the name people use, which may be an official name or an informal one. A nickname is specifically an informal, affectionate, or descriptive substitute for a real name. So someone called 'William' officially might be called 'Bill' as a nickname — both use 'called'.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing called in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
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From
The Seattle Times · Jul 25, 2026
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