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Prepositions after adjectives

Famous for, in, of, by or as?

Famous for is the standard pattern for the reason someone or something is well known. Other prepositions appear in more limited contexts.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows 'famous'?

Use famous for to give the reason for fame. Use famous as for a role or identity. In may introduce a place or field where fame exists. Of and by are usually part of other sentence structures, not standard complements after famous.

The city is famous for its museums.
She became famous as a journalist.
The actor is famous in France.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
famous for + reason

Giving the cause of fame

Use for before the quality, achievement, or feature connected with fame.

The beach is famous for its clear water.
He is famous for his speeches.
2
famous as + role

Describing a public identity

Use as before a profession, role, or type of person.

She is famous as a designer.
The writer became famous as a critic.
3
famous in + place or field

Limiting fame to a location or area

In can show where someone or something is famous.

The brand is famous in South Korea.
He is famous in scientific circles.
4
famous by + time expression

Using by in separate structures

By is not normally selected by famous itself. It can appear in expressions such as famous by the age of twenty.

She was famous by the age of twenty.
The athlete became famous by his early twenties.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
famous for
The region is famous for its coffee.
Standard pattern giving the reason for fame.
famous as
He became famous as a film director.
Used for a role or identity.
famous in
The singer is famous in Japan.
Shows where or in what field the fame exists.
famous of
The phrase 'famous of' is not standard in current English.
Use famous for instead.
famous by
She was famous by the end of the decade.
By usually belongs to a time expression, not directly to famous.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using 'famous of'

English uses famous for, not famous of, to give the reason for fame.

✕ The town is famous of its castle. ✓ The town is famous for its castle.

Using 'famous by' for the reason

By does not normally introduce the cause of fame.

✕ He is famous by his paintings. ✓ He is famous for his paintings.

Confusing role and reason

Use as for identity and for for achievements or qualities.

✕ She is famous for a scientist. ✓ She is famous as a scientist.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The restaurant is famous ___ its seafood.
2. He became famous ___ a television host.
3. The artist is famous ___ Italy.

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Frequently asked questions

Is 'famous of' correct?

No. Standard English uses famous for, not famous of.

Can I say 'famous in the world'?

You can, but expressions such as famous around the world or world-famous are usually more natural.

What is the difference between famous for and famous as?

Famous for gives the reason for fame. Famous as gives a role or identity.

face-to-face-with-in-at-for, to "fair to" or "fair in"? faithful to, in, of, with or for? falling of, in, out, into or off? "false in" or "false to"? famed for, as, in or throughout? familiar with, to, from or in? fanatical about, in, as, for or of? "fantastic for" or "fantastic in"? far from, in, to, for or with? fascinating to, about, in, for or as? "fashionable in" or "fashionable for"?

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