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

Official documents show Hitler – who was gaining prominence but had not yet seized power in Germany – had already left Munich for Nuremberg the previous afternoon, a timeline that would prove that he could not have been involved in her death. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2026

Fisher, who rose to prominence in the 1970s as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films, died in 2016 after a medical incident on an airplane. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2026

Heading into its 50th anniversary next year, the Old Skool may rise to an even higher level of prominence. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026

Silicon sampling, which has gained prominence in recent months, is much faster and far cheaper to complete than conventional polling. — W. Joseph Campbell, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 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)