renown

1 of 2

noun

re·​nown ri-ˈnau̇n 

1

: a state of being widely acclaimed and highly honored : fame

2

obsolete : report, rumor

renown

2 of 2

verb

renowned; renowning; renowns

transitive verb

: to give renown to

Synonyms

Noun

• celebrity
• fame
• notoriety

Examples of renown in a Sentence

Noun

He achieved great renown for his discoveries.

Her photographs have earned her international renown.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Wicked was a musical first, but soon the movie will match it in renown. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 9 Oct. 2024

Mann was aiming at his brother Heinrich, a novelist and an essayist of nearly equal renown, whose liberal politics led him to support Germany’s enemies, France and Britain. —George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024

With a family pedigree steeped in food and hospitality, Boxer has been honing his craft from a young age, quickly gaining renown for his inventive takes on British cuisine at his other London locations like Brunswick House, Orasay and Below. —Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Harari might be, after the Dalai Lama, the figure of global renown who is least online. —Daniel Immerwahr, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English renoun, from Anglo-French renum, renoun, from renomer to report, speak of, from re- + nomer to name, from Latin nominare, from nomin-, nomen name — more at name

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing renown

• of renown

Kids Definition

renown

noun

re·​nown

ri-ˈnau̇n

: a state of being widely known and highly honored : fame