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

• altitude(s)
• elevation
• eminence
• height
• highland
• hill
• hump
• mound
• rise
• upland

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

Song Jae-lim, a former model who rose to prominence in K-dramas, was found dead in his apartment last November at age 39. —Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025

Voight rose to prominence as a male prostitute who befriends a hustler (Dustin Hoffman) in the Best Picture-winning Midnight Cowboy (1969), earning him a Best Actor nomination. —Skyler Trepel, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2025

Bonaparte rose to prominence during the French Revolution after leading a series of military campaigns across Italy and elsewhere. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025

Druckenmiller rose to prominence as the manager of George Soros’ Quantum Fund in the 1990s, helping on a famous bet against the British pound, and had a long track record of success on his own with Duquesne Capital Management before closing the firm in 2010. —Jesse Pound, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025

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

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)