renown
Americannoun
-
widespread and high repute; fame.
- Synonyms:
- eminence, note, distinction, glory, celebrity
-
Obsolete. report or rumor.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
Founded in 1952 by British engineer Colin Chapman, Lotus gained worldwide renown for sporty cars that outgunned the competition with lighter weight over outright horsepower.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026
The festival’s successful return to the Castro, with its prime location and renown, buttresses the organization’s future—welcome news in a world in need of just that.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
His renown grew after the Everest climb and he fostered a close friendship with the Kennedy family.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
The French Laundry, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by renown chef Thomas Keller, has been sued by a former employee who alleges wage theft and other labor law violations at the Yountville, Calif., eatery.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
Jon had seen this one about the castle—a knight of great renown, to hear him tell it.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
