prominent

/ˈprɑːmɪnənt/

Say it: PROM-uh-nuhnt

1. adjective Important, famous, or well-known.
She is a prominent figure in the world of artificial intelligence.
2. adjective Physically sticking out or projecting from a surface.
The gargoyle's prominent features were eroded by centuries of rain.
3. adjective Easily seen or noticed; conspicuous.
The warning label was placed in a prominent position on the packaging.

📖 Seen in the wild

She became a prominent figure in the civil rights movement.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ prominent in a sentence

He played a prominent role in the company's success.
The cathedral is the most prominent landmark in the city.
The article was prominently displayed on the front page of the newspaper.
A prominent jawline is a characteristic feature of his family.
Several prominent members of the community attended the charity gala.
The most prominent symptom of the illness is a persistent cough.
The lawyer raised a few prominent objections during the trial.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

noticeable conspicuous important eminent distinguished leading famous well-known

noticeable · suggests something that simply catches one's attention, without implying importance.

conspicuous · implies being very obvious, sometimes in a way that attracts unwanted attention.

important · focuses on significance and influence rather than simple visibility.

eminent · refers to someone highly respected and distinguished in their profession.

Opposites: inconspicuous, obscure, unknown, insignificant, recessed

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'prominent' comes directly from the Latin 'prominere', which means 'to jut out' or 'to project forward'. This original, physical sense of something sticking out was later extended metaphorically to describe people or things that stand out from the crowd in terms of importance or fame.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

a prominent figurea prominent rolea prominent featurea prominent memberprominently displayed

The key to using 'prominent' correctly is context. It can refer to physical objects that stick out ('a prominent scar') or to people who stand out for their achievements ('a prominent scientist'). While generally a positive or neutral term, it simply denotes being well-known, unlike 'eminent' which implies high respect, or 'notorious' which implies being known for negative reasons.

Word family: prominence, prominently

💬 Quick answers

What does prominent mean?

Prominent has two main meanings: either important and well-known, like a famous person, or physically sticking out and easy to see, like a large nose or a tall building.

What is the difference between prominent and eminent?

While both words suggest importance, 'prominent' means widely known or noticeable. 'Eminent' is a stronger term, implying high rank and great respect within a specific field, like an 'eminent scholar'.

Can a thing be prominent, or only a person?

Both people and things can be prominent. A person can be a prominent leader, and a skyscraper can be a prominent feature of the skyline.

Is prominent a formal word?

Prominent is a neutral word that is appropriate for most contexts, including formal writing and everyday conversation. It is not considered slang or overly casual.

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