prominent

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈpɹɑmɪnənt/ UK /ˈpɹɒmɪnənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #10712

Meanings

1

adj
Important and well known.

She is a prominent member of the scientific community.
2

adj
Easily noticed because of size or position.

Place the warning sign in a prominent position.
3

adj
Sticking out from a surface.

He had a prominent nose and a strong chin.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · important and well known. distinguished eminent notable noteworthy

2 adj · easily noticed because of... conspicuouseye-catchingstriking

3 adj · sticking out from a surface. protuberant jutting

Word family

Derived forms improminentoverprominentprominentlyultra-prominent

Related forms eminent imminent prominence

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

prominent citizen
a well-known and influential member of a community

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Prominent, recorded in late Middle English, ultimately derives from Latin eminere, “to jut” or “project.” It shares this root with eminent and pre-eminence.

Etymology

From obsolete French prominent (compare proéminent), from Latin prōminēns, present active participle of prōmineō (“jut out, to project”), from prō (“before, forward”) + mineō (in compounds, “jut, project”).

*per- Proto-Indo-European prominent French prōminēns Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# prominent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɹɑmɪnənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɹɒmɪnənt/
**Frequency rank:** 10712

## Meanings
1. Important and well known.
2. Easily noticed because of size or position.
3. Sticking out from a surface.

## Examples
- She is a prominent member of the scientific community.
- Place the warning sign in a prominent position.
- He had a prominent nose and a strong chin.

## Derived Forms
- improminent
- overprominent
- prominently
- ultra-prominent

## Related Forms
- eminent
- imminent
- prominence

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *per-
- Root: prominent
- Root: prōminēns

## Etymology
From obsolete French prominent (compare proéminent), from Latin prōminēns, present active participle of prōmineō (“jut out, to project”), from prō (“before, forward”) + mineō (in compounds, “jut, project”).

## AI Etymology
Prominent comes from obsolete French prominent (compare proéminent), from Latin prōminēns, present active participle of prōmineō (“jut out, to project”), from prō (“before, forward”) + mineō (in compounds, “jut, project”). In present-day English it covers important and well known, easily noticed because of size or position, and sticking out from a surface. The wider family includes derived forms such as improminent, overprominent, prominently, ultra-prominent and related forms such as eminent, imminent, prominence.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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