prominent

adjective

prom·​i·​nent ˈprä-mə-nənt How to pronounce prominent (audio)
ˈpräm-nənt
1
: standing out or projecting beyond a surface or line : protuberant
2
a
: readily noticeable : conspicuous
b
: widely and popularly known : leading
prominently adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Julie Mehretu, one of the most prominent contemporary artists in the world. Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 The recent endorsement of Sliwa by prominent Jewish leader Dov Hikind has only solidified their certainty that the Orthodox voting bloc will put him over the top. Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025 Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley—one of the more prominent players set to become an NBA free agent Monday with the free-agency negotiating window starting at 6 p.m. ET—is under federal investigation for potential gambling on NBA games and pro bets, ESPN reported on Sunday. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 June 2025 Bringing it out of the shadows and into a more prominent location can help preserve a bit of family history, and that’s something that’s always worth passing down. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 29 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for prominent

Word History

Etymology

Middle English promynent, borrowed from Latin prōminent-, prōminens "projecting, standing out," from present participle of prōminēre "to project beyond a surface, stick out, stick up," from prō- pro- entry 2 + -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 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prominent was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prominent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prominent. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

prominent

adjective
prom·​i·​nent ˈpräm(-ə)-nənt How to pronounce prominent (audio)
1
: sticking out beyond a surface or line
2
: easily noticeable
the prominent sound was the drumbeat
3
: distinguished, eminent
our most prominent citizens
prominently adverb

Medical Definition

prominent

adjective
prom·​i·​nent ˈpräm-(ə-)nənt How to pronounce prominent (audio)
: standing out or projecting beyond a surface

More from Merriam-Webster on prominent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!