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
- big-name
- celebrated
- famed
- noted
- notorious
- prominent
- renowned
- star
- visible
- well-known
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 In June, the famous family's five-bedroom and four-and-a-half brownstone in the Upper East Side of New York City hit the market for $11.5 million. 
Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 The Purosangue’s big engine, a 715-horsepower V12 of the sort for which Ferrari is famous, is carried farther back behind the front wheels than in similar vehicles to create a better weight balance, according to Ferrari. Peter Valdes-dapena, CNN, 13 Sep. 2022 The queen was famous for not granting interviews, and her archives have not been accessible. Wsj Books Staff, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Then Godard was famous, and off in a new direction, and then another. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Stagecoach is famous for booking a few veterans and/or mainstream rock acts that may be considered roots-adjacent to fill key slots in the Palomino tent. Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Sep. 2022 His Huskers were famous for losing close games — 22 of his 31 losses were decided by eight points or less — and for getting beat as double-digit favorites. Eric Olson, ajc, 11 Sep. 2022 Sarandon's newest role brings her back to television as the conniving (and criminal) matriach of country music's most famous family in the new Fox drama, Monarch. Keith Langston, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2022 Royal watchers agree King Charles is not likely to corral extended relatives into the crown’s affairs as his mother did with her cousin the Duke of Kent, most famous for his role handing out trophies to the victors at Wimbledon. Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2022 See More
Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 The Purosangue’s big engine, a 715-horsepower V12 of the sort for which Ferrari is famous, is carried farther back behind the front wheels than in similar vehicles to create a better weight balance, according to Ferrari. Peter Valdes-dapena, CNN, 13 Sep. 2022 The queen was famous for not granting interviews, and her archives have not been accessible. Wsj Books Staff, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Then Godard was famous, and off in a new direction, and then another. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Stagecoach is famous for booking a few veterans and/or mainstream rock acts that may be considered roots-adjacent to fill key slots in the Palomino tent. Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Sep. 2022 His Huskers were famous for losing close games — 22 of his 31 losses were decided by eight points or less — and for getting beat as double-digit favorites. Eric Olson, ajc, 11 Sep. 2022 Sarandon's newest role brings her back to television as the conniving (and criminal) matriach of country music's most famous family in the new Fox drama, Monarch. Keith Langston, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2022 Royal watchers agree King Charles is not likely to corral extended relatives into the crown’s affairs as his mother did with her cousin the Duke of Kent, most famous for his role handing out trophies to the victors at Wimbledon. Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
famous
adjective
fa·mous ˈfā-məs
: very well-known
famousness
noun
as in fame
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fame
- celebrity
- renown
- reputation
- repute
- eminence
- noteworthiness
- glory
- kudos
- illustriousness
- primacy
- stardom
- preeminence
- prepotency
- superstardom
- greatness
- prestigiousness
- transcendence
- dominance
- honor
- supremacy
- preponderance
- paramountcy
- superiority
- megastardom
- nobleness
- prestige
- preponderancy
- notoriety
- distinction
- ascendancy
- infamy
- ascendance
- notableness
- influence
- ascendence
- domination
- dominion
- ascendency
- authority
- power
- weight
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- insignificance
- mediocrity
- obscurity
- inferiority
- obscureness
- let nature take its course
- let off
- let off the hook
- let on
- let on (about)
- let on about
- let one have it
- let one's guard down
- let one's hair down
- let oneself go
- let oneself in for
- let out
- let rest
- let ride
- let rip
- let sleeping dogs lie
- let slide
- let slip
- let solution
- let someone down easy
- let someone down gently
- let someone have it
- let someone in on
- let someone in on a (little) secret
- let someone in on a little secret