famed
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of famed
Explanation
Something that's famed is very well-known, or famous. Your dad's famed brownies are the highlight of every bake sale in town. The adjective famed basically means "renowned." In other words, something that's famed is famous, usually for its excellence. If a book is famed, it's either a bestseller or a classic, and if your English teacher is famed, it's probably hard to get into her classes because everyone wants to take them. The 16th century meaning of famed was "much talked about," from the now-obsolete verb fame, "spread abroad or report."
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 book’s title nods to another famed DJ — Art Laboe — whose “Oldies But Goodies” compilations were split between the ballad-heavy “dreamy side” and dance-centric “jump side.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026
The famed Frostproof, Florida, was once the seat of the Ben Hill Griffin empire.
From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026
Red Lobster is bringing back its famed Endless Shrimp promotion—with a few strings attached.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026
That studio was later used by dancer and choreographer Valerie Bettis, who crafted routines for some of Hollywood and Broadway’s biggest heavyweights, including famed screen siren Rita Hayworth.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
Studying data on human structural limits compiled by Finnish mathematicians, famed track coach Brutus Hamilton penned an article for Amateur Athlete magazine stating that a four-minute mile was impossible.
From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand
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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.