# Dave

/ˈdeɪv/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dave
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a man's name

noun · CEFR A1

a common short form of the name David.

For teachers: a diminutive of the masculine given name David, often used as a formal given name in its own right.

- My friend Dave is coming over to help me fix my computer tonight.
- The project manager, Dave, requested a detailed breakdown of the budget before the final meeting on Tuesday.

### 2. a surname

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a family name, especially one from India.

For teachers: a surname originating from the Gujarati word for a person who has studied two Vedas.

- Mr. Dave is the new accountant at the firm downtown.
- The research paper was co-authored by Dr. Dave, a leading expert in South Asian linguistics.

## Examples

- My friend Dave is coming over for dinner tonight.
- The plumber introduced himself as Dave and began inspecting the leaking pipes in the kitchen.
- While David remains the formal choice for legal documents, he prefers the more approachable Dave in all professional and social correspondence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.