famous

adjective

fa·​mous ˈfā-məs 

1

a

: widely known

a restaurant famous for its French cuisine

b

: honored for achievement

a famous explorer

2

: excellent, first-rate

famous weather for a walk

famousness noun

Synonyms

• big-name
• celebrated
• famed
• noted
• notorious
• prominent
• renowned
• star
• visible
• well-known

Choose the Right Synonym for famous

famous, renowned, celebrated, noted, notorious, distinguished, eminent, illustrious mean known far and wide.

famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

renowned implies more glory and acclamation.

one of the most renowned figures in sports history

celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.

a notorious gangster

distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

Examples of famous in a Sentence

a book about some of the most famous people of the last century

the review gushed that the restaurant offered some truly famous Southern-style cooking

Recent Examples on the Web

Without international fans in the stands and streets, trading Olympic pins, and athletes unable to celebrate their accomplishments with their loved ones—or with each other in the Olympic Village, one of the world’s most famous party destinations—those Games lacked some luster. —Sean Gregory, TIME, 27 June 2024

There’s a discussion to be had about recent headlines regarding reality TV’s most famous family that many parents can probably relate to. —Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 27 June 2024

Even those manicurists who are famous for their clean girl aesthetic have experimented with the look, like brat-green French tips. —Hannah Coates, Vogue, 27 June 2024

End of carousel Michaels called one of the most famous Olympics moments in history, narrating the United States’ hockey victory over the Soviet Union in 1980. —Ben Strauss, Washington Post, 26 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin famosus, from fama fame

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing famous

• world-famous

Kids Definition

famous

adjective

fa·​mous ˈfā-məs 

1

: much talked about : very well-known

famous explorer

2

: excellent

famous weather for a picnic