renown
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.the state of being famous and admired by many people for your skills or achievements.
n.the state of being widely acclaimed or celebrated; widespread recognition for excellence or accomplishment.
Simple“The author gained international renown after her third novel became a bestseller.”
In context“Despite his early renown as a brilliant physicist, he spent his later years working in relative obscurity on theoretical problems.”
UsageUsually uncountable; often follows adjectives like 'international', 'great', or 'lasting'.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
v.to make someone or something famous.
v.to render someone or something famous or celebrated.
Simple“The brave deeds of the knights were renowned in many old songs.”
In context“Ancient poets sought to renown their patrons through epic verses that would survive for centuries.”
UsageIn modern English, this is almost exclusively used as the past participle adjective 'renowned' rather than a functional verb.
Synonymscelebrateexalt
“The actor, M, is joined by “a writer of some renown” and a fashion model who possesses “some vague self-absorption”.”
From Old French renoun (compare with Modern French renom), equivalent to re- + noun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.