fame
6 synonyms and 1 antonym for fame, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The state of being well known and widely recognized, especially for achievement.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use fame
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
rise to fame
claim to fame
achieve fame
Etymology
From Old French fame, from Latin fama ("talk, rumor, reputation").
Full origin of fame →Frequently asked questions
What does “fame” mean?
The word “fame” means the state of being well known and widely recognized, especially for achievement. In plain terms, being widely known and talked about, usually for something impressive or notable.
How do you pronounce “fame”?
“Fame” is pronounced faym (/feɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “fame” in a sentence?
Here is “fame” used in a sentence: “The singer achieved worldwide fame almost overnight.”
What part of speech is “fame”?
“Fame” is a noun.
Where does the word “fame” come from?
The word “fame” comes from Latin. From Old French fame, from Latin fama ("talk, rumor, reputation").
Is “fame” a common word?
“Fame” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between fame and notoriety?
Fame is the state of being well known and widely recognized, especially for achievement, and it carries a generally positive tone. Notoriety also means being widely known but for something bad or scandalous, so fame is admired while notoriety is not.
What is the difference between fame and celebrity?
Fame is the abstract state of being widely recognized for one's achievements. 'Celebrity' can mean the same state but is also used for a famous person, as in 'a celebrity walked in', a use that 'fame' never has.
What is the difference between fame and reputation?
Fame is being widely known, usually on a large scale and for achievement. Reputation is the opinion people hold about someone, which can be good or bad and can exist on a small, local scale; a person can have a strong reputation without any fame.
