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Definitions

well-known

[wel-nohn] / ˈwɛlˈnoʊn /
ADJECTIVE
familiar, famous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acclaimed eminent illustrious important infamous known leading notable noted notorious outstanding popular prominent recognized renowned reputable
WEAK
VIP WK big big-name big-shot celeb celebrated common conspicuous in the limelight in the public eye large name public somebody splashy star superstar widely known
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inconspicuous inferior insignificant obscure ordinary unimportant unknown unnoticeable unremarkable
WEAK
unfamiliar

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Despite Becerra’s long tenure in state and federal office, the unflashy politician is not well-known among California voters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

The most well-known, of course, is the iPhone, which came out in 2007.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Rival Intuit has been investing in AI for eight years, while Xero is up against six well-known competitors vying for market share, they note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

He and the company quickly joined the most well-known names in the technology industry after the release of ChatGPT in 2022 which is now one of the most widely used AI tools in the world.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

A young man named Jesse Jackson was the head of the student government at A&T. He would later go on to become a minister, well-known civil rights leader, and presidential candidate.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson