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

The untimely death of Hayden Panettiere, a onetime child star who soared to fame while navigating addiction and postpartum depression in her adult life, came just months after the beloved actor described feeling ready to start over. — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

That was rarely true in the era when distribution followed fame. — Erhan Kaya, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Verb

Old-Days Maneuver Bessent, 63, was famed for his role in successful, high-stakes bets on the British pound and Japanese yen during his work for George Soros. — Christopher Anstey, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

Unlike that spot, which was enormous and famed for a degree of raucousness, Cynthia is a tasting-menu restaurant, refined and notably tiny. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 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