noun
nown
Noun (noun) means a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Example: “Dog," "London," and "happiness" are all nouns.”
noun
1
A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
""Dog," "London," and "happiness" are all nouns."
"The teacher asked the class to underline every noun in the sentence."
How to use noun
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of the basic building blocks of a sentence — a naming word.
Memory tip
If you can put "the" or "a" in front of it, it is probably a noun.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
proper noun
common noun
noun phrase
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Word forms
- Plural
- nouns
- Third person singular
- nouns
- Past tense
- nouned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"Dog," "London," and "happiness" are all _____.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman noun ("name"), from Latin nomen, "name" — the same root that gives us "nominate" and "name."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for noun
See all rhymes for noun →Frequently asked questions
What does “noun” mean?
The word “noun” means a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. In plain terms, one of the basic building blocks of a sentence — a naming word.
How do you pronounce “noun”?
“Noun” is pronounced nown (/naʊn/ in IPA).
How do you use “noun” in a sentence?
Here is “noun” used in a sentence: “"Dog," "London," and "happiness" are all nouns.”
What is another word for “noun”?
Words with a similar meaning to “noun” include name, nameword, substantive noun, substantive, naming word and noun substantive.
What part of speech is “noun”?
“Noun” is a noun.
Where does the word “noun” come from?
The word “noun” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman noun ("name"), from Latin nomen, "name" — the same root that gives us "nominate" and "name.".
Is “noun” a common word?
“Noun” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between a noun and a pronoun?
A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea directly, such as 'teacher' or 'city,' while a pronoun replaces a noun to avoid repetition, such as 'she' or 'it.' Pronouns depend on context to identify which noun they refer to.
What is the difference between a common noun and a proper noun?
A common noun names a general person, place, thing, or idea, such as 'city' or 'dog,' while a proper noun names a specific one, such as 'Paris' or 'Rex,' and is always capitalized. This distinction affects both meaning and capitalization rules.
Can a noun function as an adjective?
Yes, a noun can act as a modifier before another noun, forming what is called a noun adjunct, as in 'coffee cup' or 'school bus,' where the first noun describes the second without changing its own word class.
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