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.
A well-known figure in the news in Rio, Moscatelli calls the capybaras by human names to sensitize humans to them.
From Slate • May 27, 2026
Around the same time, my wife and I were invited to dinner by another adviser from a different well-known firm, but I was more cautious this time.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
Readers will find engrossing case studies of well-known disasters such as the Titanic and the USS Indianapolis, as well as sections on bygone Viking wrecks and the mysterious “ghost ships” of seafaring lore.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
Booths of less well-known companies showcased the diverse range of drone technologies available, including "anti-jamming" devices, "sound recognition", "infrared thermal imaging" and "laser countermeasures".
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
Often, we have lost sight of their range of interests: Brahe and Hailey are well-known as astronomers, but who remembers that they were also cartographers?
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
