put a name to

present singular third person puts a name to · participle present putting a name to · alternative put a name on

1. To attribute a person's name to (their face, voice, photo, etc.).

   “I can’t put a name to you—but I’m sure I’ve met you—I’ve met everybody, here, or in Paris or London. Aren’t you in diplomacy? […]”

   1920, Edith Wharton, chapter 9, in The Age of Innocence, New York: D. Appleton, page 77

2. To name or identify (something).

   “give your orders, you two gentlemen, and you’re welcome to whatever you put a name to.”

   1853, Charles Dickens, chapter 33, in Bleak House, London: Chapman & Hall, page 367

   1 more example

   It was a feeling so alien to his usual state of being that he was not able to put a name to it until that night, lying in bed and looking at the ceiling and replaying the day. Power.

   1986, Stephen King, chapter 7, in It, New York: Viking, page 295

3. To identify the author of (a publication or other writing).

   1711, F. Manning, “Memorial to the Grisons” in The Present State of Europe, February 1711, Volume 12, p. 57, Libels which have been publish’d, but which no Body durst put a Name to

   2 more examples

   I had otherwise interpreted this phrase, had he put a name to his book

   1658, Jeremiah Ives, Confidence Encountred, London, p. 11, footnote

   how unusual soever it is to put a Name to such small Papers

   1697, Thomas Burnet, Second Remarks upon An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, page 30