renown

1 of 2

noun

re·​nown ri-ˈnau̇n How to pronounce renown (audio)
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

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
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Noun
There are a lot of reasons for this dynastic recent past, of course, and for the Chiefs’ increasingly world-wide renown. Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025 This is realistic talk from any FCS coach who faces an FBS program of this renown with vastly superior facilities, financial backing and decades of tradition at the highest level of the sport. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Blawan rose to cult renown with a series of records for UK labels including Hessle Audio. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 2 Sep. 2025 Her character, the increasingly panicked Nostromo navigator Joan Lambert, can’t claim the same renown that Weaver’s heroic Ellen Ripley inspired, but Lambert maintains an unimpeachable place in the genre canon nonetheless. Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for renown

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

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

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Cite this Entry

“Renown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/renown. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

renown

noun
re·​nown
ri-ˈnau̇n
: a state of being widely known and highly honored : fame

More from Merriam-Webster on renown

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