eminently

adverb

em·​i·​nent·​ly ˈe-mə-nənt-lē 

: to a high degree : very

eminently worthy

an eminently sensible plan

Did you know?

Eminently Has a Stand Out History

When British physician Tobias Venner wrote in 1620 of houses "somewhat eminently situated," he meant that the houses were located at an elevated site—they were literally in a high place. That use has since slipped into obsolescence, as has the word's use to mean "conspicuously"—a sense that reflects its Latin root, ēminēre, which means "to stick out" or "protrude." All three meanings date to the 17th century, but today's figurative sense of "notably" or "very" is the only one now regularly encountered.

Synonyms of eminently

• extremely
• very
• highly
• incredibly
• terribly
• too
• damned
• so
• damn
• really
• badly
• severely
• far
• desperately
• jolly
• most
• super

Examples of eminently in a Sentence

an applicant who is eminently qualified for the job

Recent Examples on the Web

The first two seasons of the Jim Harbaugh/Joe Hortiz Era produced consecutive 11-win seasons followed by eminently forgettable losses in AFC wild-card playoff games, first to the Houston Texans and then to the New England Patriots. — Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2026

Ballmer is eminently respected by his brethren, both for his voice and his business savvy. — David Aldridge, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Breathlessly fun and eminently rewatchable, Soderbergh’s stylish caper followed an unusually serious, awards-heavy stretch for the filmmaker that included Oscar-winning dramas Traffic (2000) and Erin Brockovich (2000). — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

Pre-eminently rational and practical…his worldly wisdom effectively disguise[s] a shy and splendid idealism which is the very essence of the man. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eminently

• preeminently

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