promontory

noun

prom·​on·​to·​ry ˈprä-mən-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce promontory (audio)
plural promontories
1
a
: a high point of land or rock projecting into a body of water
b
: a prominent mass of land overlooking or projecting into a lowland
2
: a bodily prominence

Example Sentences

stood on the windswept promontory overlooking the bay Cape May is Delaware Bay's largest promontory.
Recent Examples on the Web Aside from a few birds chirping, the promontory seemed still and ancient... Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2016 What appears to be a lenticular cloud hovers downwind of a rocky promontory near Mt. Discovery in Antarctica, as seen from orbit in this Landsat image captured in late Novermber, 2013. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2013 The far more massive new development in Brooklyn doesn’t fit into its neighborhood so much as dominate the promontory and broadcast its virtuosity. Curbed, 14 Dec. 2022 Although, the palatial Beverly Hills pad—which is perched atop a promontory—truly feels like it’s fit for royalty with its soaring high ceilings, ornate details, stained-glass accents and hugely oversized rooms. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Dec. 2022 The higher promontory beyond lies about 325 feet (100m) away, and the vista extends for more than 1,300 feet (400m). Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2019 Ahead of me, on a rocky promontory woven with ribbons of snow, thousands of penguins marched about their business—a comical carnival of waddling, sliding and flopping—as elephant seals barked at each other nearby. Sarah Khan, Robb Report, 27 Dec. 2022 The rover looks north from Duck Bay toward the promontory called Cape Verde. Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2019 As the temperature dropped, around two dozen guests, newly reanimated, convened at the promontory to watch the last interactions of water and sky. Henry Wismayer, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2022 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Latin promunturium, promonturium; probably akin to prominēre to jut forth — more at prominent

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of promontory was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near promontory

Cite this Entry

“Promontory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promontory. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

promontory

noun
prom·​on·​to·​ry ˈpräm-ən-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce promontory (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
plural promontories
: a high point of land sticking out into the sea

Medical Definition

promontory

noun
prom·​on·​to·​ry ˈpräm-ən-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- How to pronounce promontory (audio)
plural promontories
: a bodily prominence: as
a
: the angle of the ventral side of the sacrum where it joins the vertebra
b
: a prominence on the inner wall of the tympanum of the ear

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