Famous
What it means
Recognized by a large number of people, usually for a particular reason.
Reach for it when describing broad public notice without automatically praising character
The harbor is famous for a night market run by fishing families.
Words to choose between 7
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday |
|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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playful
household name
Fits when near-universal popular recognition suits informal prose
Careful The idiom excludes famous places and objects.
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playful
Fits when the person or object symbolizes a style or era
Careful Iconic is overused and needs more than simple recognition.
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everyday
Fits when recognition is broad but ordinary in scale
Careful Well-known carries less cultural prominence than famous.
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warm
Fits when public praise accompanies recognition
Careful A controversial person can be famous but not celebrated.
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professional
prominent
Fits when current importance or visibility matters
Careful Prominence may be temporary and limited to one field.
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formal
notorious
Fits when wide recognition comes from something harmful
Careful Notorious reverses the positive implication many readers hear in famous.
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formal
Fits when being known specifically for excellence is essential
Careful Renowned wrongly adds admiration to mere celebrity.
Opposites 3
- unknown
- anonymous
- obscure
Common phrases 3
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world-famous
The village hosts a world-famous festival of shadow puppets.
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famous for
This coast is famous for calm water and nesting terns.
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famous author
A famous author opened the new reading room.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated