well-known
Americanadjective
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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.
Researchers led by Suketu Patel put several leading AI models through a well-known psychology experiment called the Stroop task.
From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026
The city has long been home to acts that sought inspiration from nearly every bin in the record shop—the cinematic trip-hop outfit Portishead is the most well-known example.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Stocks’ performance during the 2022 World Cup is just one data point, but it’s consistent with the historical record, according to a well-known study that analyzed how sports sentiment impacts the stock market.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
“She’s a pretty well-known figure. She’s tied into all the networks.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026
Crows are well-known for making and using tools.
From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate
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.
