Synonyms

renown

American

[ri-noun] / rɪˈnaʊn /

noun

widespread and high repute; fame.

Synonyms:

eminence, note, distinction, glory, celebrity
Obsolete. report or rumor.

renown British

/ rɪˈnaʊn /

noun

widespread reputation, esp of a good kind; fame

"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

Other Word Forms

renownless adjective

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

Compare meaning

How does renown compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

renown vs. renowned

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.

He won renown as one of the key figures in the new wave of Iranian cinema.

From BBC

Even amid Welsh rugby's renown tribalism, this news will not have been celebrated by regional rivals.

From BBC

Despite his own verdict, both mediums would bring him lasting, well-deserved, renown.

From The Wall Street Journal

Both won Pulitzer prizes, World Press Photo awards and global renown.

From The Wall Street Journal

He cultivated renown as a Wall Street wizard yet projected an air of uncaring.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023