renown

1 of 2

noun

re·​nown ri-ˈnau̇n 

1

: a state of being widely acclaimed and highly honored : fame

2

obsolete : report, rumor

renown

2 of 2

verb

renowned; renowning; renowns

transitive verb

: to give renown to

Synonyms

Noun

• celebrity
• fame
• notoriety

Examples of renown in a Sentence

Noun

He achieved great renown for his discoveries.

Her photographs have earned her international renown.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Hoping to capitalize on its renown, Vivienne Westwood staged its first bridal fashion show as part of Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week on Thursday. —Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025

Asa Keyes, the anti-corruption L.A. district attorney (who would himself be jailed for corruption), publicly questioned how a woman of her renown could be grabbed off the street. —Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025

He is flanked by two bodybuilders, only one of whom, a man of lesser renown, assists the grimacing leader of the free world, who is looking ever the country-club veteran in a polo and a pastel windbreaker. —Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 10 May 2025

Image Though fame has so far eluded Kehlmann in the U.S., he’s achieved the kind of renown in Germany that is rare for writers. —David Segal, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English renoun, from Anglo-French renum, renoun, from renomer to report, speak of, from re- + nomer to name, from Latin nominare, from nomin-, nomen name — more at name

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing renown

• of renown

Rhymes for renown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

renown

noun

re·​nown

ri-ˈnau̇n

: a state of being widely known and highly honored : fame