renown

1 of 2

noun

re·​nown ri-ˈnau̇n 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• celebrity
• fame
• notoriety

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

Noun

Winfrey and Goldberg, ages 71 and 69, were presenting themselves as political avatars rather than the companionable media figures of their first renown. —Armond White, National Review, 7 Mar. 2025

Tyson last fought a sanctioned fight in 2005 , losing a sixth-round TKO to gigantic Irishman Kevin McBride, a fighter of little renown beyond that win. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025

Already a seasoned pro of international renown, Wieck introduced it on November 9, 1835, with the top-flight Gewandhaus Orchestra of her native Leipzig, conducted by Felix Mendelssohn, who was 10 years Clara’s senior and himself one of the supreme prodigies in the history of music. —Matthew Gurewitsch, airmail.news, 4 Jan. 2025

Meanwhile, Snoop’s just out here doing things: pretending to be an NFT buyer of mild renown, making a splash at the Paris Olympics, investing in Klarna. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing renown

• of renown

Rhymes for renown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

renown

noun

re·​nown

ri-ˈnau̇n

: a state of being widely known and highly honored : fame