prominence

noun

prom·​i·​nence ˈprä-mə-nən(t)s 

ˈpräm-nən(t)s

1

: something prominent : projection

a rocky prominence

2

: the quality, state, or fact of being prominent or conspicuous

3

: a mass of gas resembling a cloud that arises from the chromosphere of the sun

Synonyms of prominence

• hill
• mound
• eminence
• elevation
• mountain
• cliff

Examples of prominence in a Sentence

The company rose to prominence in the 1990s.

The publicity has given him a prominence he doesn't deserve.

Recent Examples on the Web

Good works, prominence, success — none of these get us to Heaven. —Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2026

The 34-year-old, whose real name is Kiari Cephus, rose to prominence over the past decade-and-a-half as one-third of Migos alongside Quavo and Takeoff. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026

Over time, that storyline gains more prominence, and again points to how all of us can get sucked into the profitable tech world. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026

The conservative activist had six children before gaining prominence in the early nineteen-seventies as the chief opponent of the Equal Rights Amendment. —Emma Green, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin prōminentia "state of projecting or jutting out," noun derivative of prōminent-, prōminens "projecting, standing out," from present participle of prōminēre "to project beyond a surface, stick out, stick up" — more at prominent

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for prominence

• dominance
• predominance

Kids Definition

prominence

noun

prom·​i·​nence ˈpräm(-ə)-nən(t)s 

1

: the quality, state, or fact of being prominent : distinction

a person of prominence

2

: something (as a mountain) that is prominent

3

: a mass of gas resembling a cloud that arises from the chromosphere of the sun

Medical Definition

prominence

noun

prom·​i·​nence ˈpräm(-ə)-nən(t)s 

: an elevation or projection on an anatomical structure (as a bone)