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

Born in Alabama and rising to prominence in New York, Mays embraced San Francisco, even if the city didn’t always embrace him. —Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 18 June 2024

The Epoch Times rose to prominence in recent years as a fierce backer of Trump due to his anti-China rhetoric, and as a peddler of conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and the 2020 election. —Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 15 June 2024

Rarely has a technology risen—or been forced—into prominence amid such controversy and consumer anxiety. —Brian Merchant, The Atlantic, 12 June 2024

The prominence of Dodgers fans surprised Los Angeles’ Teoscar Hernández, who gave them plenty to cheer about with two home runs — including an eighth-inning grand slam — and a career-high-tying six RBI on Saturday. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 June 2024

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)