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.
Despite Becerra’s long tenure in state and federal office, the unflashy politician is not well-known among California voters.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026
“Memory inflation will pressure margins, but this is well-known, and iPhone revenue upside sets up for a better than feared June quarter guide,” Woodring wrote.
From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026
"In Estonia, his native country, and within pockets of the world, Öpik is still a rather well-known figure," he said.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
To better understand how much plastic these sponges release, researchers Yu Su, Baoshan Xing, Rong Ji, and their colleagues tested several products from three well-known brands.
From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026
They agreed to meet at a well-known place, the Tomb of Ninus, under a tree there, a tall mulberry full of snow-white berries, near which a cool spring bubbled up.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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.
