Definition of PROMINENT

Examples of prominent in a Sentence

… and a small precise mouth he kept pursed over teeth a shade too prominent and yellow. —John Updike, The Afterlife, 1994
When the easy way out seemed to be for a number of prominent men to support a petition to get Davis a pardon, which, if granted, would get the President and others off the hook, Davis was determined to let them hang there. —Robert Penn Warren, Jefferson Davis Gets His Citizenship Back, 1980
His eyes, which tended to bulge when he was exercised, were not quite prominent. —E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime, 1974
I don't mind his calling me raw. He is reckoned raw himself and at the same time perhaps the most prominent of the younger poets here. —Robert Frost, letter, c. 16 June 1913
He quickly became prominent in the music industry.
He placed the award in a prominent position on his desk.
He has a prominent nose.
the most prominent peak in the mountain range

Recent Examples of prominent from the Web

Rachel Childs, once a prominent and fast-rising TV journalist, has hit a very rough patch.

— adam woog, The Seattle Times, "Review: ‘Since We Fell’: Woman’s breakdown, search for father don’t end well", 2 June 2017
Mr. Goode is an unlikely, reluctant and unusually prominent plaintiff in the high-stakes constitutional lawsuit.

— katherine rosman, New York Times, "Eric Goode, a New York Night-Life Impresario, Takes On Trump", 1 June 2017
Glioblastomas have killed prominent figures such as U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, singer-actress Ethel Merman and retired baseball player Gary Carter.

— gary robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "UC San Diego hires renowned brain cancer expert Jeremy Rich", 31 May 2017
Most obviously, Hannity’s coverage of the DNC staffer’s murder has been prominent and appalling.

— conor friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "How Conservatives Awoke to the Dangers of Sean Hannity", 30 May 2017
Fernandez Rundle is one of the party’s most prominent local figures.

— julie k. brown, miamiherald, "Packed crowd slams Fernandez Rundle for handling of Rainey case", 30 May 2017
Jarrett Stidham and Malik Willis each worked out at prominent events this weekend.

— james crepea, AL.com, "Auburn quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham, Malik Willis attend prominent camps", 29 May 2017
But prominent figures in the theater community, including Vladimir Urin, the director of the Bolshoi Theater, have written directly to Putin, asking him to review the investigation.

— andrew roth, Washington Post, "Artists are protesting as Russia targets an avant-garde theater director", 27 May 2017
The U.S. president was caught on camera jostling Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic out of the way to secure a prominent spot for a photo opportunity as NATO heads of state gathered Thursday in Brussels.

— misha savic, Bloomberg.com, "Trump Shove on Montenegro's Leader Draws Balkan Media Ire", 26 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prominent'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of prominent

Middle English promynent, from Latin prominent-, prominens, from present participle of prominēre to jut forward, from pro- forward + -minēre (akin to mont-, mons mountain) — more at mount

First Known Use: 15th century

prominent Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of prominent

noticeable, remarkable, prominent, outstanding, conspicuous, salient, striking mean attracting notice or attention. noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation. a piano recital with no noticeable errors remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment. a film of remarkable intelligence and wit prominent applies to something commanding notice by standing out from its surroundings or background. a doctor who occupies a prominent position in the town outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind. honored for her outstanding contributions to science conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind. conspicuous bureaucratic waste salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it. the salient points of the speech striking applies to something that impresses itself powerfully and deeply upon the observer's mind or vision. the region's striking poverty

prominent