preeminent

adjective

prē-ˈe-mə-nənt How to pronounce preeminent (audio)
Definition of preeminentnext
1
as in greatest
coming before all others in importance the preeminent reason for the booming economy

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2
as in chief
highest in rank or authority the preeminent golfer of his generation

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3
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement a meeting of preeminent scientists from around the world

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of preeminent Known as a preeminent authority on all things home, our founder has spent decades teaching people how to elevate their spaces through books, TV shows, and online and print publications. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 29 July 2026 The most preeminent is that the market has decided to exercise its power to stop the spend. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 July 2026 Her late husband Grant Wahl, for decades the preeminent soccer journalist in the United States, died at the Qatar World Cup in 2022, after collapsing while covering a quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands. — Sean Gregory, Time, 10 July 2026 Today, Fubo has best-in-class programming partnerships, innovative service offerings and preeminent live sports and entertainment content and is well positioned for the future. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for preeminent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preeminent
  1. main
  2. chief
  3. outstanding
  4. primary
  5. foremost
  6. distinguished
  7. dominant
  8. commanding
Adjective
  • Speaking to voters Of course, there are skeptics everywhere in this arena, not least concerning the two main protagonists.
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This main event headlines the first PBC world title fight of the new DAZN era, also broadcast on Prime Video.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • United great Paul Scholes, Salford’s chief football advisor, made clear just last week that the club are still chasing something bigger but, for now, the current setup seems just right.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Amir Becker, Dream’s chief business and strategy officer, said the way the AI system operated in this latest case was alarming.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of chief
Adjective
  • That vulnerable performance earned Ahmed an Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Losing access to the credit card doesn't eliminate the outstanding balance, though.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • Voters across Connecticut are heading to the polls on Tuesday to vote for key primary races including governor and House seats.
    — ABC NEWS, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Learn more about voter resources and details about key races in the WCCO 2026 primary election guide.
    — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • ActiveCampaign Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Today, perhaps the foremost image of a moderate is that of a centrist on a left-right spectrum.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • Football legends such as Charlie Ward, Travis Hunter and Eric Berry headline a distinguished legacy that continues in 2026.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Noel Brewer is the Gillings distinguished professor in public health at the University of North Carolina.
    — Noel T. Brewer, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of distinguished
Adjective
  • Apple’s market dominance is built around September; moving away from tradition would upset the ecosystem supporting the launch and risk weakening the iPhone’s dominant position.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • There have been plenty of dominant teams in the 150-plus-year history of college football, but few have left a bigger mark on the sport than the Miami Hurricanes did during the 1980s.
    — Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of dominant
Adjective
  • In neighboring Wisconsin, Francesca Hong, who previously aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, has what appears to be a commanding lead in the gubernatorial primary.
    — Tamara Keith, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Eventually, Skubal morphed into the game’s best and most commanding pitcher.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of commanding

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Cite this Entry

“Preeminent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preeminent. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of preeminent for Spanish Speakers

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