renowned

1 of 2

adjective

re·​nowned ri-ˈnau̇nd How to pronounce renowned (audio)
Synonyms of renowned
: widely acclaimed and highly honored : celebrated

renowned

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of renown entry 2

Synonyms of renowned

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
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

Adjective 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
His teacher advised him to check out the renowned improv troupe Second City. — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Tupac Shakur, a renowned rapper-actor, was shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas and died of his injuries six days later. — USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 Rooms As befits the renowned and ever expanding Rosewood collection, rooms and suites at the Anasazi set the benchmark for a luxury stay. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026 Los Angeles Times restaurant critic Bill Addison shared with me that chef Alfonso Martinez received the recipe for his renowned moronga, a type of blood sausage, on his wedding day from his future father-in-law. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for renowned

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see renown entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Phrases Containing renowned

Rhymes for renowned

See All Rhymes for renowned

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Renowned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/renowned. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

renowned

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