renown
Americannoun
-
widespread and high repute; fame.
- Synonyms:
- eminence, note, distinction, glory, celebrity
-
Obsolete. report or rumor.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of renown
1300–50; Middle English renoun < Anglo-French; Old French renom, derivative of renomer to make famous < Latin re- re- + nōmināre to name
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Explanation
Renown is fame and acclaim — the kind of celebrity that most people only dream about. Renown is not only about celebrity, though; it also means being highly respected in one's field. Actors, musicians, and artists practice their art, sometimes for many years, to gain the kind of renown, or fame, that will launch their faces onto the covers of magazines and make their name known in every household. Greta Garbo, Luciano Pavarotti, and Salvador Dali all became renowned in their respective fields. They won numerous awards, and who isn't familiar with their names? Even things or places can achieve renown if they offer something worth celebrating. An ice cream parlor can become renowned for its incredible mint chip ice cream, or a bank can be renowned for its excellent customer service.
Vocabulary lists containing renown
Hamilton
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
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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 End of History and the Last Man,” published in 1992, was the making of Francis Fukuyama as a public intellectual and political scientist of world renown.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Seclusion was clearly top of mind when the home was designed, with a long driveway and tree-lined parcel helping to protect the dwelling from any prying eyes—a must for an actress of Ryan’s renown.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
On the evidence of these letters, she had two great loves: Ahmet Ertegun, a principal founder of Atlantic Records, and Tom Dowd, renown recording engineer and producer who worked for Ertegun.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Recognition of their "outstanding universal value" brings international renown and commits authorities to work toward their preservation.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Carvajal went on to achieve modest renown as a priest in Lima, dying peacefully at the age of eighty.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
