favorable public reputation
"Her fame for her charity work earned her a place on every local newspaper's front page."
What is said or reported; gossip, rumour.
"The strange rumors about his disappearance spread quickly through the village before they could be confirmed as fact."
In plain English: Fame is when a lot of people know who you are and talk about you because you did something special.
"She finally achieved fame after her song went viral on social media."
Usage: Use fame to describe widespread knowledge or reputation gained through achievement, not as a synonym for gossip or rumor. While archaic definitions exist, modern usage almost exclusively refers to being well-known by the public.
to make (someone or something) famous
"Her new documentary will finally bring fame to the obscure village where she grew up."
In plain English: To make something famous or well-known to many people.
"Her success has made her famous overnight."
Usage: Use "fame" only in rare literary contexts where it means to make someone famous; in everyday speech, you should use the verb "make famous" instead. The common noun "fame" refers to being well-known, not the act of achieving that status.
The word "fame" entered Middle English from the Old French fame, originally meaning celebrity or renown. It ultimately traces back to Latin fāma ("talk, rumor") and a Proto-Indo-European root related to speaking.