Cool MateFamous vs Legendary vs Notable vs Renowned
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Famous
Legendary
Notable
Renowned
| Famous | Legendary | Notable | Renowned | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfeɪməs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfeɪməs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈledʒəndri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈledʒənderi/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈnaʊnd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈnaʊnd/"]/ |
| Meaning | Well-known or popular. | Very famous and admired, often because of a great achievement. | Something important or worth remembering. | Well-known and respected. |
| Example | Marie Curie is a famous scientist known for her work in radioactivity. | a legendary figure | a **notable success/achievement/example** | a renowned author |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, become, make somebody/something, extremely, fairly, very, as, for, rich and famous | legendary status, legendary figure, legendary status, legendary creature | be, especially, particularly, for | renowned author, renowned scientist, renowned artist, renowned for achievements, renowned institution |
| Antonyms | unknown, obscure, anonymous | ordinary, common, unremarkable | insignificant, trivial, unremarkable | unknown, obscure |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'infamous', which means well-known for negative reasons., Using 'famous' as a verb when it is only an adjective., Mistakenly thinking 'famous' is only used for people. | Confused with 'legend' - 'legendary' describes something, while 'legend' is a noun., Using 'legendary' for things that are not famous enough., Mispronouncing as 'legandary'. | Confusing 'notable' with 'noteworthy' - they are similar but have different nuances., Using 'notable' as a verb instead of an adjective., Misplacing the adjective in a sentence, leading to awkward phrasing. | Confused with 'renown' (the noun form)., Using 'renowned' in informal situations., Mixing up 'renowned' with similar-sounding but incorrect words. |
| Usage notes | Typically used to describe people, places, or things that are widely recognized. Works well in both formal and informal contexts but can be less suitable for everyday conversations. | Use 'legendary' to describe people, events, or stories known for their greatness. Often used in a positive context but can be informal in casual conversations. | Use 'notable' to emphasize importance or distinction, particularly in academic or formal contexts. It may not fit casual conversations where simpler words like 'important' may be more suitable. | Use 'renowned' in formal contexts to describe someone or something that is famous and respected. It's not appropriate for casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Famous vs Legendary vs Notable vs Renowned
What's the difference between Famous, Legendary, Notable, and Renowned?
Famous: Well-known or popular. Legendary: Very famous and admired, often because of a great achievement. Notable: Something important or worth remembering. Renowned: Well-known and respected.
Which is more formal: Famous, Legendary, Notable, and Renowned?
Renowned is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Famous, Legendary, Notable, and Renowned?
Famous is the most common in everyday English.
Are Famous, Legendary, Notable, and Renowned the same CEFR level?
Famous: A1, Legendary: C1, Notable: C1, Renowned: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Famous: Marie Curie is a famous scientist known for her work in radioactivity. Legendary: a legendary figure Notable: a **notable success/achievement/example** Renowned: a renowned author
Can I use Famous, Legendary, Notable, and Renowned interchangeably?
Not always. Famous, Legendary, Notable, and Renowned are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.