well-known
Americanadjective
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clearly or fully known.
The well-known reasons are obvious.
-
generally or widely known.
a well-known painting.
- Synonyms:
- celebrated, noted, famous, prominent
adjective
-
widely known; famous; celebrated
-
known fully or clearly
Etymology
Origin of well-known
late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75
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 atmosphere softened for an a cappella version of 'Grace', the well-known Irish ballad linked to the 1916 Easter Rising, before the national anthem rang out.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
“He was already pretty well-known in the community,” said Cohen, who remembers meeting Yang when Yang toured Carnegie Mellon as a prospective student.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
But even though it is more than four years since Dean stepped out onto a football pitch he remains as well-known as most current referees.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
She owns about $100,000 of Consolidated Edison stock that is held at a company I’ll call Acme Corp., a well-known stock-transfer agent, as a paper stock certificate.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
Spiritualists, possibly also Leah and Daniel Underhill, offered to pay for both sisters to stay at a well-known residential rehab facility run by Dr. George Taylor and his wife, Sarah.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
