# Matthew

/ˈmæθju/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. given name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a common masculine given name of Hebrew origin.

- My brother Matthew is starting university in London this September.
- Matthew was among the most popular names for boys in the United Kingdom throughout the late twentieth century.

### 2. biblical figure

noun · CEFR B2

one of the twelve followers of Jesus, also known as Matthew the Evangelist.

For teachers: one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus, traditionally identified as a former tax collector and the author of the first Gospel.

- The painting shows Matthew sitting at his desk writing his account.
- In Christian iconography, Matthew is often depicted alongside an angel or a winged man to symbolise his role as an evangelist.

### 3. book of the Bible

noun · CEFR B2

the first book in the New Testament of the Bible.

For teachers: the first of the four Gospels in the New Testament, traditionally attributed to Matthew the Apostle.

- The priest read a famous passage from Matthew during the Sunday service.
- Scholars often compare the narrative structure of Matthew with the other Synoptic Gospels to identify unique theological themes.

## Examples

- Matthew is my brother's name.
- The teacher called on Matthew to answer the question about the history project.
- Scholars often compare the Gospel of Matthew with the other synoptic gospels to identify unique theological themes and structural differences in the narrative.

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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.