celebrated

celebrated — adjective

1. known to many people for a particular talent, achievement, or admirable quality

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

known to many people for a particular talent, achievement, or admirable quality

Example

The celebrated chef Priya Kapoor opened her second restaurant in downtown Mumbai last spring.

attributive use: celebrated + profession noun

Tourists from around the world visit the celebrated temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

attributive use: celebrated + place / landmark

Common collocations
  • celebrated + profession (chef, author, artist, musician, scientist, poet, architect)
  • celebrated + place/building (temple, museum, city, garden, university)
  • be celebrated for + achievement/trait (research, beauty, skill, work)
  • widely celebrated
  • internationally celebrated
Synonyms
  • renowned

    Very similar in meaning but tends to be used for places, institutions, or achievements slightly more than for people; sounds slightly more formal.

  • famous

    The most common alternative; can be neutral or even negative (famous for being late), so it lacks the strong positive admiration of celebrated.

  • acclaimed

    Emphasises public praise from critics or experts, often for artistic or creative work.

  • distinguished

    Focuses on respect earned through a long career or high achievement; used especially for academics, doctors, or leaders.

Antonyms
  • unknown

    Not known by the public at all; the most direct opposite.

  • obscure

    Not widely known and often difficult to find information about.

Grammar Patterns

celebrated + noun (person or place)

be celebrated for + noun / gerund

Usage Note

Unlike the more neutral word famous, celebrated always carries a strong positive meaning of being admired for a specific skill or virtue. It is most often used attributively before a profession (a celebrated chef, a celebrated author) or a well-known landmark. When the reason for the fame is the main point, the predicative pattern be celebrated for is more natural.

Common Mistakes

My grandmother is a celebrated cook in our family.
My grandmother is well known as a great cook in our family.
celebrated is too strong for small-group recognition; use well known or famous instead.
He celebrated the scientist for his discovery.
The scientist is celebrated for his discovery.
the adjective celebrated cannot be used as a verb; the verb celebrate means 'to show joy about an event,' not 'to praise publicly.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe someone or something that many people know about, but they differ in connotation and typical use. Celebrated is the most positive: it implies admiration for a specific talent or admirable quality. Famous is the broadest and most neutral; it can describe anyone widely known, even for a negative reason (a famous criminal). Renowned is close to celebrated but is more common with places and institutions (a renowned university) and has a slightly formal tone. Acclaimed focuses on public approval, especially from critics or experts in a field, and is used most with artists, writers, and performers. Distinguished emphasises respect built over a long period, often through official honours or high-ranking positions. In conversation, famous works everywhere; in formal or written English, celebrated and renowned add warmth, while distinguished adds the idea of earned respect.

celebrated ↗famous ↗renowned ↗acclaimed ↗distinguished ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be celebrated for
  • a celebrated example of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Celebrated comes from the Latin verb celebrare, meaning 'to gather in large numbers, to honour, or to praise publicly.' The past participle celebratus gave rise to the adjective, which entered Middle English through Old French. By the 16th century, celebrated had settled into its modern sense: known far and wide because of something admirable.