famous

adjective

fa·​mous ˈfā-məs 

1

a

: 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

famousness noun

Synonyms of famous

• famed
• celebrated
• prominent
• renowned
• notorious
• infamous

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

the review gushed that the restaurant offered some truly famous Southern-style cooking

Recent Examples on the Web

Resurfacing any track is a big and costly undertaking, let alone when the track incorporates one of the busiest and most famous bits of road in the world in the form of the Strip. —Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2025

Undoubtedly, Younger’s biggest claim to culinary fame — one that pops up every year around Thanksgiving — is her famous mac and cheese recipe. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2025

Quince has become an internet-famous go-to for gorgeous bedding basics that embody a ‘quiet luxury’ aesthetic without the sticker shock, along with responsible sourcing, free shipping, and a generous 365-day return policy. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2025

This is thanks to a new, interactive reconstruction of Rano Raraku, the crater from which most of the giant statues were quarried, which allows people to get virtually up close to the island’s famous moai. —Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin famosus, from fama fame

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing famous

• world-famous

Rhymes for famous

• amos
• ramus
• shamus
• ignoramus
• mandamus

Kids Definition

famous

adjective

fa·​mous ˈfā-məs 

1

: much talked about : very well-known

famous explorer

2

: excellent

famous weather for a picnic