renowned
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of renowned
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How does renowned compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Celebrated, gushed over, and even legendary, something that's renowned is really famous. If you not only find a cure for cancer, but you also go on lots of talk shows so everyone knows who you are, then you'll be a renowned scientist. Renown comes from the Anglo-Norman for "re-name," as in repeatedly name, so something renowned is something that people are talking about, or naming, over and over. If you are a huge celebrity, people from your home town might boast, "The renowned Madame X was born here." Something renowned is really good, not just famous. Just because you make the cover of a trashy tabloid magazine doesn't mean you're a renowned actress. But if you win an Oscar, you are.
Vocabulary lists containing renowned
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"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 14–18
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
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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.
You’re renowned for your work in intense films like “Till” and “The Piano Lesson.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
As an opposition MP he was renowned for fiercely challenging former President Macky Sall's policies - a trait which he also demonstrated against his boss Faye.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
It's 28C on a sweltering afternoon in London as crowds gather outside The O2 arena for a sold-out night with one of the world's most renowned DJs.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
“You don’t need finishing school,” wrote Garry Tan, the president and CEO of renowned startup accelerator Y Combinator, in a post on X responding to news of Slow’s class.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
Min’s work was renowned for its great beauty, but there were not many who could afford it.
From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park
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.
