well-known
Americanadjective
-
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.
Biggins also claimed it was Cricket who "made wellington boots trendy" because he was well-known for wearing wellies on the wrong feet as part of his act.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
That Little League run led to her being on the cover of Wheaties boxes and Sports Illustrated and becoming one of the most well-known female athletes of her era.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
"I hope our findings will inspire a new integration of rates of morphological change into other big areas of interest, things like the very well-known latitudinal gradients in biodiversity."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
"We primarily sell our products to well-known partners, including OEMs, who help us ensure that all sales comply with US export control rules," the spokesperson said, using the acronym for original equipment manufacturers.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
There was a pet stag belonging to a Latin farmer, a beautiful creature, so tame that it would run free by day, but at nightfall always come to the well-known door.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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.
