eminent

adjective

em·i·nent ˈe-mə-nənt

Synonyms of eminent next

: exhibiting eminence especially in standing above others in some quality or position : prominent

: standing out so as to be readily perceived or noted : conspicuous

: jutting out : projecting

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On Imminent and Eminent

Imminent bears a close resemblance to eminent, and native English-speakers can be excused if they sometimes have to check their spelling. No surprise, really, since the two, despite their very distinct meanings, come from near-identical sources. The Latin minēre means basically “to project, overhang,” and it forms the root of other Latin words. One added the prefix e-, meaning “out from,” to produce eminēre, “to stand out”; another took the prefix im-, meaning “upon,” and became imminēre, “to project.” The difference between “stand out” and “project” is obviously small. Still, even when eminent and imminent first appeared as English words in the 15th and 16th centuries respectively, they were clearly distinct in meaning, imminent’s prefix having strengthened the “overhang” sense of minēre to give the word its frequent suggestion of looming threat.

Choose the Right Synonym for eminent

famous, renowned, celebrated, noted, notorious, distinguished, eminent, illustrious mean known far and wide.

famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

renowned implies more glory and acclamation.

one of the most renowned figures in sports history

celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.

a notorious gangster

distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

Example Sentences

The trend discerned by Wilde a century ago, of course, has only accelerated in recent years, as the line between trashy celebrity exposés and serious biographies of eminent artists, statesmen and thinkers has grown increasingly blurred. —

Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, 20 May 1994

Next year sees the 150th anniversary of the 'invention' of the dinosaurs by the eminent English anatomist and palaeontologist, Richard Owen. —

Nicholas Fraser, Nature, 20 & 27 Dec. 1990

many eminent surgeons are on the hospital's staff

Recent Examples on the Web Darwin's nemesis was the eminent physicist Lord Kelvin, and the weapon used against him was the age of the Earth. —

Mano Singham, Scientific American, 5 Sep. 2021 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced Tuesday that Evans will lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda on April 13, a tribute reserved for the nation's most eminent private citizens. —

Kevin Freking, Star Tribune, 6 Apr. 2021 Handwritten notes in the margins by eminent thinkers and scientists of the era proved that the book was widely read and influential in its era, Dr. Gingerich said. —

Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, 18 June 2023 Parading the heads of these eminent figures through the city, the conspirators believed, would rouse the discontented masses and trigger attacks on the Bank of England, Newgate Prison and the Tower of London—all symbols of oppression. —

William Anthony Hay, WSJ, 17 June 2022 Cornel West is among the eminent thinkers and voices of our time. —

Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 5 June 2023 His blog and podcast, Knowledge For Men, were tapestries of his voyages, the risks undertaken, and dialogues with eminent coaches, thought leaders and experts. —

Jon Stogan, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023 Dmitry Krymov, one of Russia’s most eminent directors, is among the dozens of artists who have left their homeland since Russia invaded Ukraine. —

Jeremy Fassler, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2023 And when Paris was occupied by Germans during World War II, this most eminent of hotels was -- like many other desirable locales -- taken over by high-ranking members of the Nazi party, including Hitler's second-in-command Hermann Goering. —

CNN, 2 Dec. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eminent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "standing out, exceed other things in quality or degree," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, "high, lofty" (also continental Old French), borrowed from Latin ēminent-, ēminens "standing out above a surface, projecting, outstanding in merit or importance," from present participle of ēminēre "to stick out, protrude, project, be preeminent, excel," from ē-, variant of ex- ex- entry 1 + -minēre, taken to mean "stand out, rise above" (unattested without a prefix) — more at minatory

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of eminent was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century