Samuel
Americannoun
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a judge and prophet of Israel. 1 Samuel 1–3; 8–15.
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either of two books of the Bible bearing his name. 1 Sam., 2 Sam.
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a male given name.
noun
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a Hebrew prophet, seer, and judge, who anointed the first two kings of the Israelites (I Samuel 1–3; 8–15)
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either of the two books named after him, I and II Samuel
Etymology
Origin of Samuel
From Late Latin Samuhel, from Greek Samouḗl, from Hebrew Shĕmūʾēl “Name of El (God),” or “His name is El (God)”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, which houses the Endeavour shuttle stack, is nearest to completion.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
The California Science Center announced Monday that construction has been completed on its new Samuel Oschin Air & Space Center, bringing the highly anticipated expansion one step closer to its public debut.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
Caitlin Martin, 24 and Samuel Fairley, 25, have known each other for three years but have been together two-and-a-half years.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
WASHINGTON—Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was taken to a hospital and given fluids for dehydration last month after attending a dinner in his honor in Philadelphia.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
One of the letters was addressed to Dr. Samuel A. Mudd.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
