fame

1 of 2

noun

ˈfām 

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

Synonyms of fame

Noun

• notoriety
• celebrity
• renown
• reputation

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

Noun

Following the release of ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI’s founding team found themselves on the other side of overnight fame—at least in the insular tech bubble of the Bay Area. — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026

That said, Antonelli’s rise to fame was much, much quicker, reaching the milestone that all F1 drivers set out to accomplish, yet most of them never do. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 2 Nov. 2026

Verb

Set the scene Asheville today is where hipster grunge meets Blue Ridge beauty, where a (post-Helene) revived River Arts District, famed for its galleries and craft breweries, celebrates edgy creativity. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026

This will mark the first time a Steppenwolf production will be seen at a British venue famed for its long history of producing new works for the stage — often edgy and ambitious plays, albeit these days often with stars attached. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

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

Phrases Containing fame

• claim to fame
• what price glory/fame

Rhymes for fame

• aim
• blame
• brame
• came
• claim
• dame
• flame
• frame
• game
• haim
• lame
• maim

Kids Definition

fame

noun

ˈfām

: the fact or condition of being known to the public : renown

famed

ˈfāmd

adjective