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Showing results for well-known. Search instead for Well+Known.
Synonyms

well-known

American  
[wel-nohn] / ˈwɛlˈnoʊn /

adjective

  1. clearly or fully known.

    The well-known reasons are obvious.

  2. generally or widely known.

    a well-known painting.

    Synonyms:
    celebrated, noted, famous, prominent

well-known British  

adjective

  1. widely known; famous; celebrated

  2. known fully or clearly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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 targets range from a boutique builder in California to well-known brands including PRS.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

A well-known figure in the news in Rio, Moscatelli calls the capybaras by human names to sensitize humans to them.

From Slate • May 27, 2026

Around the same time, my wife and I were invited to dinner by another adviser from a different well-known firm, but I was more cautious this time.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Kennedy Shoal is a well-known fishing reef in deep water.

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

However, the famous explorer didn’t think that Roosevelt’s current plans, to travel down an already well-known river, “could offer anything new to an Expedition whose object was to unravel unknown aspects of our wilds.”

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

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