eminently

adverb

em·​i·​nent·​ly ˈe-mə-nənt-lē How to pronounce eminently (audio)
Synonyms of eminentlynext
: 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.

Examples of eminently in a Sentence

an applicant who is eminently qualified for the job
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.
This was an eminently reasonable point. Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026 Even if Champions League qualification feels far-fetched, securing a place in either the Europa League or Conference League remains eminently possible — and important financially. Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026 First, each of the six propositions rests on eminently reasonable judgments about various institutions and their likely performance, capacities, and incentives. Cass Sunstein, Big Think, 5 Mar. 2026 Any negative pushback in this moment will be interpreted as a small-minded and eminently self-serving response that puts parochial party interests above the interests of the country. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eminently

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eminently was in 1616

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Cite this Entry

“Eminently.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eminently. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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