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 former child actor dove into his speech by first poking fun at his Home Alone fame. —Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026

Riley’s portrayal established Billie Jo as dramatic, fame-seeking, and determined to escape small-town life. —Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026

Verb

Also this week, grocery chain Wegmans is collecting your biometric data and 2010s cupcake darling Sprinkles is closing, as is famed (or perhaps more accurately, notorious) LA restaurant Horses. —Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026

Yes, the red carpet that stretches along the Croisette is famed for its archaic dress code, leaving Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson, et al at the mercy of prescriptivist film nerds for daring to participate in the sheer and sexy. —Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2025

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