# Noah

/ˈnoʊə/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. religious figure

noun · CEFR B1

a man in religious stories who built a large boat (an ark) to save his family and animals from a great flood.

For teachers: the patriarch in Abrahamic traditions who constructed an ark to survive the Deluge.

- In the story, Noah took two of every animal onto his boat.
- The narrative of Noah and the ark is a foundational flood myth shared across several major world religions.

### 2. given name

noun · CEFR A2

a common name for a boy.

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

- Noah was the most popular name for baby boys in the city last year.
- The registrar noted that Noah has remained a top-ten choice for parents for over a decade.

### 3. a shark

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Dialect · British English · American English

a slang word for a shark.

For teachers: rhyming slang for 'shark', derived from 'Noah's ark'.

- The surfers stayed out of the water because someone spotted a Noah near the beach.
- Local fishermen warned the tourists about the presence of a large Noah patrolling the reef.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article 'the'.

Teaching tip: This is a form of rhyming slang; while it originated in Australia, it is understood in various coastal English-speaking communities but remains very informal.

## Examples

- The story of Noah and the ark is very famous.
- In religious studies, the narrative of Noah serves as a primary example of a covenant between a deity and humanity.
- Scholars often compare the account of Noah to earlier Mesopotamian flood myths, such as the story of Utnapishtim in the Epic of Gilgamesh, noting significant thematic and structural parallels.

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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.