English Reference
Verb

rename

v.
B1 Intermediate US /ɹiˈneɪm/ UK /ɹɪnˈeɪm/ re·name UK spelling renamed, renames, renaming

v.to give a person, place, or thing a new name. You do this when the old name no longer fits or you want a fresh start.

v.to assign a new name to an entity, replacing the previous designation. Often involves updating records or digital files to reflect the change.


SIMPLE

I need to rename this folder so I can find it later.

CONTEXTUAL

The city council voted to rename the central park after a famous local poet to celebrate the town's history.

COMPLEX

After the merger, the executive board decided to rename the entire corporation to signal a shift toward sustainable energy and distance themselves from past controversies.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object; it often takes a second noun phrase as a complement ('rename X Y').


From re- + name.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated