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.
Their approach uses high-dimensional encoding and is based on a well-known optical phenomenon called the Talbot effect.
From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026
Block is well-known as the founder and chief executive officer of Muddy Waters Capital, a hedge fund and investment research firm, with a string of successful bearish bets to his name.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
From independent cafes to restaurants and shopping centres, an increasing amount of retailers are taking the leap in welcoming furry friends, including well-known brands Ikea, John Lewis, Zara, H&M and Lush.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the most well-known and prestigious hospital systems in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
I did not need to be guided to the well-known room, to which I had so often been summoned for chastisement or reprimand in former days.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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.
