renowned

adjective

re·​nowned ri-ˈnau̇nd How to pronounce renowned (audio)
: widely acclaimed and highly honored : celebrated
Choose the Right Synonym for renowned

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 renowned in a Sentence

Poggio prospected for manuscripts across much of western Europe, visiting the renowned monasteries of Reichenau and Fulda, and wandering as far afield as Cologne, London, Paris, and Rome. Fred Lerner, The Story of Libraries, 1998
He was renowned for his appetite—in the mid-60's, his daily breakfast consisted of six steaks, four plates of pasta and a dozen eggs … Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 24 June 1993
… it was hard for me to realize that I was to be honoured by a degree from the oldest and most renowned university in America. Booker T. Washington, Up From Slavery, 1901
a restaurant renowned for its wine list the renowned painter, sculptor, architect, and engineer, Leonardo da Vinci
Recent Examples on the Web The renowned north Phoenix Metrocenter stood as one of the largest malls in the country, bustling with shoppers in the 1980s. Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 Daughter of the renowned fado singer Teresa Siqueira, Carminho released her debut album Fado in 2009, followed by Alma in 2012, Canto in 2014, Carminho canta Tom Jobim in 2016, Maria in 2018 and Portuguesa in 2023 — the last of which earned her a Latin Grammy nomination. Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2024 Grosz was at first reluctant to venture into teaching, but renowned Detroit chef Brian Polcyn encouraged him to share his gift with a new generation of cooks. Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 On Thursday, renowned local chef and restaurant owner Jim Stump served up his Monterey Bay Vermillion Rock Fish Ceviche with guacamole, salsa and a blue corn tortilla chip, working with SSP America Executive Chef James McGregor. Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024 Marking the first time the brand has ever worked with an internationally renowned home-goods designer, the vibrant new line features 16 indoor chenille rug designs, each available in 10 different sizes — from runners to 9'x12' area rugs and everything in between. Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Marian Anderson, the renowned singer and civil rights icon who broke racial barriers in the arts and helped pave the way for other Black artists, is being honored in her hometown of Philadelphia. Melissa Noel, Essence, 29 Feb. 2024 Over four days, guests can partake in premium experiences, from tasting dishes created by renowned celebrity chefs to test-driving cars built by the best marques. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 The botanical garden and outdoor sculpture park is home to the renowned Richard & Helen Devos Japanese Garden, which is considered to be one of the best Japanese gardens outside Japan. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'renowned.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see renown entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of renowned was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near renowned

Cite this Entry

“Renowned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/renowned. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

renowned

adjective
re·​nowned ri-ˈnau̇nd How to pronounce renowned (audio)
: having renown : celebrated

More from Merriam-Webster on renowned

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