famous

famous — adjective

1. if a person, place, or thing is famous, a very large number of people know about

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

if a person, place, or thing is famous, a very large number of people know about them — often across a whole country, or even around the world

Example

The night market in Taipei is famous for its oyster omelettes and bubble tea.

collocation: famous for + [place-specific thing]

Arjun became famous after his short film won first prize in Berlin.

collocation: become famous + [reason/cause]

Common collocations
  • famous for
  • famous as
  • world-famous
  • famous among
  • become famous
  • famous throughout
  • famous worldwide
Synonyms
  • well-known

    less strong than 'famous'; can mean known within a particular group or area rather than worldwide

  • renowned

    suggests great respect and esteem, often for exceptional skill or achievement

  • celebrated

    implies public admiration and being talked about enthusiastically

  • notable

    the weakest of the group; means worthy of attention without implying widespread knowledge

Antonyms
  • unknown

    not known by anyone

  • obscure

    not well known, often because of being difficult to access or hidden away

Grammar Patterns

famous + for + noun/gerund

famous + as + noun phrase

famous + among + group noun

be/become + famous

Usage Note

Use 'famous for' to give the reason someone or something is known (e.g., famous for its beaches). Use 'famous as' to state the role or identity (e.g., famous as a tourist destination). 'World-famous' is a common compound adjective used before a noun.

Common Mistakes

He is famous with his paintings.
He is famous for his paintings.
Use 'famous for' (reason/cause), not 'famous with'.
She is famous because a singer.
She is famous as a singer.
Use 'famous as' (role/identity), not 'famous because' + noun.
Idioms

famous last words

idiom

used humorously when someone expresses too much confidence that something will go well, and the speaker expects the opposite to happen

"The traffic will be light at this hour," said Nora. "Famous last words!" laughed Astrid as they hit a long line of cars.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe being known by other people, but they differ in degree and connotation. 'Famous' is the most general and common term — it simply means a very large number of people know about someone or something. 'Well-known' is milder and can refer to knowledge within a local area or a specific community rather than nationwide or worldwide. 'Renowned' carries a stronger sense of respect and esteem, often for exceptional talent or achievement. 'Celebrated' adds a tone of public admiration and enthusiastic attention. 'Notable' is the weakest — it means worthy of notice or interesting, without implying that many people actually know about the person or thing. For example: a well-known café may be popular with local residents; a renowned chef is invited to cook at international events; a celebrated film wins awards at festivals around the world; and a notable feature of the building is its stained-glass window.

well-known ↗renowned ↗celebrated ↗notable ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • world-famous
  • famous person
  • famous landmark
  • famous quote

Adverbs

  • famous worldwide
  • famous internationally
  • famous locally
  • famous throughout

Phrases

Prepositions

  • famous for
  • famous as
  • famous among
  • famous throughout
  • famous in

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'famous' entered English in the 1300s from Old French 'fameus', which came from Latin 'fama' meaning 'talk, report, or public reputation'. At its heart, the Latin root is about things that people talk about — so a famous person is literally someone who is talked about by many people.