English Reference

Word

famed

US/ˈfeɪmd/

UK/fˈeɪmd/

Definition

adj. known or talked about by many people because of a special quality or achievement.

adj. widely known or celebrated for a particular characteristic or accomplishment. Often used in a predicative position following a linking verb or as an attributive modifier before a noun.

Examples

“The city is famed for its beautiful old bridges.”

“The region is famed for its volcanic soil, which produces some of the most unique wines in the country.”

“While the author was famed for her reclusive nature, her posthumous journals revealed a woman deeply engaged with the political movements of her era.”

Examples

simple

“The city is famed for its beautiful old bridges.”

contextual

“The region is famed for its volcanic soil, which produces some of the most unique wines in the country.”

complex

“While the author was famed for her reclusive nature, her posthumous journals revealed a woman deeply engaged with the political movements of her era.”

Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'for' to indicate the reason for the fame.

Pitfall

He is famed by his music

He is famed for his music

Famed is almost exclusively paired with the preposition 'for' rather than 'by' or 'with'.

Real-World Examples

“Beard was famed for his role in the rock group.”
BreakingNews.ie · 18 Aug 2026
“Who Were the Couples That Posed for David Hockney's Famed Double Portraits?”
Smithsonian Magazine · 17 Jun 2026

Etymology

From fame + -ed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference