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.
Bin Laden and al-Qaeda were already well-known to the US intelligence community in1998.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
"We used to be well-known for the daily shootings and killings. Now we are well-known for our very successful entrepreneurs, the tech industry, the successful defence industry, and the capital markets," he said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
Lucas also invited Banksy to the museum to remake some well-known works, including “Girl With a Balloon,” Bates said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
The analysis revealed that many well-known gut bacterial species actually divide into several distinct evolutionary lineages.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026
The laughter died away, when a well-known and abhorred voice, apparently close to my ear, addressed me in an audible whisper, “I am satisfied, miserable wretch! You have determined to live, and I am satisfied.”
From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley
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.
