prominence

noun

prom·​i·​nence ˈprä-mə-nən(t)s How to pronounce prominence (audio)
ˈpräm-nən(t)s
Synonyms of prominencenext
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 of prominence

Relevance
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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
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.
Their name appears throughout South Florida on charitable projects and nonprofit boards, reflecting decades of giving that accompanied the family’s growing prominence. — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026 James Baldwin rose to prominence as a novelist, essayist, and public intellectual at a time when psychoanalysis was all the rage. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 2026 The trade paid off for both teams — even if the Lakers took a circuitous route to get back to prominence. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 The momentum that the event has generated in recent years has helped propel the center to new prominence. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prominence

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prominence was in 1533

Rhymes for prominence

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Browse Nearby Words

Promin
prominence
prominency
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Cite this Entry

“Prominence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prominence. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prominence

noun
prom·​i·​nence ˈpräm(-ə)-nən(t)s How to pronounce prominence (audio)
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 How to pronounce prominence (audio)
: an elevation or projection on an anatomical structure (as a bone)

More from Merriam-Webster on prominence

Nglish: Translation of prominence for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prominence

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