# David

/ˈdeɪvɪd/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common name for a man or boy.

For teachers: a common masculine given name, originally from the Hebrew name meaning 'beloved'.

- My friend David is coming over for dinner this evening.
- David was a popular name in the mid-twentieth century, leading to many classrooms having multiple students with the same first name.

### 2. biblical king

noun · CEFR B1

the second king of Israel in the Bible, known for defeating the giant Goliath.

For teachers: the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah, traditionally regarded as the author of many Psalms.

- The story of David and Goliath is a famous tale about courage.
- In religious studies, the reign of King David is often cited as a golden age for the ancient Israelite monarchy.

### 3. the statue

noun · CEFR B2

a famous marble statue of the biblical David made by the artist Michelangelo.

For teachers: a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture created in marble by the Italian artist Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504.

- We stood in a long line to see the David at the museum in Florence.
- Michelangelo's David is widely considered one of the most significant works in the history of Western art.

### 4. an underdog

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a person or small group that is expected to lose against a much stronger opponent.

For teachers: a person or entity perceived as an underdog in a conflict against a much larger or more powerful adversary.

- The small local shop was a David fighting the Goliath of a global supermarket chain.
- The legal battle was framed as a classic David versus Goliath scenario, pitting a single whistleblower against a multinational corporation.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'David versus Goliath'.

## Examples

- My friend David lives in London.
- The manager asked David to lead the meeting because he has the most experience with the new software.
- While the name David remains a perennial favorite in many Western countries, its popularity has seen various fluctuations across different decades and social classes.

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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.