fame

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: public estimation : reputation
b
: popular acclaim : renown
2
archaic : rumor

fame

2 of 2

verb

famed; faming

transitive verb

1
archaic : report, repute
2
: to make famous

Examples of fame in a Sentence

Noun He died at the height of his fame. The book tells the story of her sudden rise to fame. He gained fame as an actor. She went to Hollywood seeking fame and fortune.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Ray Bourque rose to fame as one of the most dominant defensemen in NHL history, setting league records throughout a 21-season career that garnered a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Cameron Priester, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 2025 That includes the pitfalls of fame as speculation swirls around a personal life he’s always kept extremely close to the vest. Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 7 July 2025
Verb
The women of the town are also famed for their lace making. John Mariani, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 The original 1974 movie was made for $140,000 and distributed by Bryanston Distributing Company, famed for its theatrical release of the 1972 X-rated title Deep Throat. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fame

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin fama report, fame; akin to Latin fari to speak — more at ban entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fame was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fame. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

fame

noun
ˈfām
: the fact or condition of being known to the public : renown
famed
ˈfāmd
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on fame

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