renowned

1. 1
   adjective

   Famous and widely celebrated; known to many people and highly praised or honored.

   The renowned violinist drew a sold-out crowd at the concert hall.

   The university is renowned for its engineering program.

   Similarfamous, celebrated, acclaimed, eminent, distinguished

   Oppositeunknown, obscure

   Note

   An adjective that grew out of a participle: what has been renowned, or made famous, is now simply renowned, and the verb form keeps that older use alive. It readily takes a scope word in front, as in world-renowned chefs. After it, for names the quality (renowned for its engineering) and as names the role. Unlike plain famous, it leans toward praise and honor rather than mere notice.

2. 2
   verb

   Past tense and past participle of renown. Rare as a verb form; renowned is usually an adjective meaning famous.

   Note

   Here the word is a working verb form, and the verb takes an object: ballads renowned the explorer, meaning they made him famous. In the passive (his deeds were renowned in verse) it sits very close to the everyday adjective. An agent or a means, such as by singers or in verse, is the sign that the verb is still doing the work. The verb is spelled the same as the noun renown, meaning fame.

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