famous

adjective

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fa·mous | \ ˈfā-məs

Definition of famous

1a : widely known a restaurant famous for its French cuisine

b : honored for achievement a famous explorer

2 : excellent, first-rate famous weather for a walk

Other Words from famous Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about famous

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Choose the Right Synonym for famous

famous, renowned, celebrated, noted, notorious, distinguished, eminent, illustrious mean known far and wide. famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known. a famous actress renowned implies more glory and acclamation. one of the most renowned figures in sports history celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print. the most celebrated beauty of her day noted suggests well-deserved public attention. the noted mystery writer notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil. a notorious gangster distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority. a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character. the country's most eminent writers illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person. illustrious war heroes

Examples of famous in a Sentence

a book about some of the most famous people of the last century some truly famous Southern-style cooking

Recent Examples on the Web Our top pick, Zildjian KC0801W Worship Pack Cymbal Set Bundle, is from a world-famous manufacturer and includes an exceptionally good hi-hat, providing a warmer tone for worship and gospel performances. — Michael Pollick, chicagotribune.com, "The best drum cymbal set," 28 Mar. 2021 So what if Americans' now-famous negativity toward China is overstated? — Eve Bower, CNN, "Polls say Americans report record low opinions of China. Are the surveys measuring racism?," 26 Mar. 2021 The convention center has previously hosted the world-famous Comic-Con gathering. — Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner, "San Diego Convention Center to house as many as 2,000 migrant children," 24 Mar. 2021 Most of the legal changes that have made libel recoveries so difficult come from less-famous follow-on cases. — Glenn Harlan Reynolds, WSJ, "How to Restore Balance to Libel Law," 24 Mar. 2021 Wander over to the world-famous San Diego Zoo—and don’t assume it’s just for kids. — Mona Schwartz, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Weekend Guide: Mexican Heritage, Microbreweries, and Marine Life in San Diego," 23 Mar. 2021 After his engine gets damaged, world-famous air racer Dusty must shift gears and find a new career. — Ed Stockly, Los Angeles Times, "Movies on TV this week: ‘My Fair Lady’; ‘Marry Poppins’," 19 Mar. 2021 Many of you will recognize these now-famous lines as spoken by the Borg, the arch antagonists of the Star Trek franchise. — Mark Dohnalek, Forbes, "What Star Trek Can Teach Your Company About Strategic Acquisition: Assimilation Vs. Integration," 18 Mar. 2021 In recent years, Google has commissioned sleek, modern buildings designed by world-famous architects. — Washington Post, "Google will spend $7 billion on new buildings and data centers in the U.S. this year, doubling down on a return to the office," 18 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'famous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.