fame

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: public estimation : reputation
b
: popular acclaim : renown
2
archaic : rumor

fame

2 of 2

verb

famed; faming

transitive verb

1
archaic : report, repute
2
: to make famous

Examples of fame in a Sentence

Noun He died at the height of his fame. The book tells the story of her sudden rise to fame. He gained fame as an actor. She went to Hollywood seeking fame and fortune.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Many young men online are finding a world of ultra-popular right-wing influencers who rose to internet fame by posting misogynistic tirades—part of the backlash to women becoming more outspoken about their discontent. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Carmen rose to fame as the frontman of the 1970s pop-rock group The Raspberries, whose tidy haircuts and matching suits appeared to reference the uniform looks of The Beatles and other defining groups of the British Invasion. Taylor Romine, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Continue reading … ‘LAND OF THE LOST’ – Child star lived ‘Yellowstone’ lifestyle after Hollywood fame. Fox News, 11 Mar. 2024 Here’s everything to know about Messi and his meteoric rise to fame. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 This two-part documentary chronicles Bob Dylan’s rise to fame. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 Steve Lawrence, a king among easy-listening crooners who rocketed to fame in the ’50s and ’60s as half of the duo Steve and Eydie, died Thursday at age 88. Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 That lifelong friendship and collaboration is the subject of the documentary Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird, which uses self-shot footage from over the years to depict their rise from the underground to alt-rock fame. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 6 Mar. 2024 Before his two-plus decades on SVU, Ice-T (born Tracy Lauren Marrow) rose to fame as a rapper in the 1980s and '90s, first as a solo artist and later with the group Body Count. Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024
Verb
Neuschwanstein Castle, famed as the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle, was built in the 19th century by Bavarian King Ludwig II. Kate Brady, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 The strikes are just the latest in a wave of industrial action in Germany, famed for its strong legal protections for workers, and follow walkouts by train drivers in January over wages. Anna Cooban, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 Beyond Cheese and Dairy Wisconsin is famed for its dairy—think cheese curds, custard, and dairy cows! Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 When slave ships docked, local newspapers reported their arrivals and made sure readers knew the enslaved people on board were from a part of Africa famed for its rice cultivation. Joshua Kagavi, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Ethic Cider is a cidery located in Sebastopol – a pleasant burg in Sonoma County famed for its Gravenstein apples – that practices regenerative agriculture or techniques that improve soil health and climate resilience. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 Not only is it known for its proximity to excellent ski mountains like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King Mountain, but the area is also famed for its amazing hikes in nearby Teton Village and its over 50 miles of paved bike pathways in the valley of Jackson Hole. Juliet Izon, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2024 Eleuthera is a remote paradise famed for its luxury resorts and pink sands, and the capital, Governor’s Harbour, is situated in the middle of the 110-mile island. Stella Shon, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2024 It is famed for a love of singing and a passion for rugby. Stephen Castle, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fame.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin fama report, fame; akin to Latin fari to speak — more at ban entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fame was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near fame

Cite this Entry

“Fame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fame. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fame

noun
ˈfām
: the fact or condition of being known to the public : renown
famed
ˈfāmd
adjective

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