Word
well known
Definition
compound. someone or something that many people know about or recognize.
compound. an adjectival compound describing a person, place, or thing that is widely recognized or famous within a specific context.
Examples
“He is a well known actor in this country.”
“The restaurant is well known for its excellent seafood and friendly service.”
“Although the author is well known among academic circles, her work remains largely undiscovered by the general public.”
Examples
simple
“He is a well known actor in this country.”
contextual
“The restaurant is well known for its excellent seafood and friendly service.”
complex
“Although the author is well known among academic circles, her work remains largely undiscovered by the general public.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “well known” in context.
Verb
01. be well known for his work
“The scientist is well known for his work on renewable energy.”
verb + adj + prep + possessive + noun
02. become well known
“The young actor became well known after starring in a popular TV series.”
verb + adj
03. remain well known
“Despite retiring years ago, the singer remains well known to fans of all ages.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. extremely well known
“The Eiffel Tower is an extremely well known landmark in Paris.”
adv + adj
05. well known to the public
“The details of the case are already well known to the public.”
adj + prep + noun
Noun
06. well known fact
“It is a well known fact that smoking is bad for your health.”
adj + noun
07. well known figure
“She is a well known figure in the local business community.”
adj + noun
Usage
use a hyphen (well-known) when it comes before a noun, but no hyphen when it follows a verb.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'famous' to show that 'well known' can be neutral or specific to a small group, whereas 'famous' usually implies global or very broad recognition.
Pitfall
a well known singer
a well-known singer
when used before a noun as a modifier, the phrase requires a hyphen to link the two words.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/well-known