eminently
Americanadverb
adverb
Usage
What does eminently mean? Eminently means highly or very. It’s an adverb that’s typically used to modify (describe) adjectives, especially positive ones, as in She is eminently qualified. Example: These versions are eminently better than the ones that were presented to us previously.
Etymology
Origin of eminently
First recorded in 1620–30; eminent ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
Use the word eminently to emphasize a positive quality. You could describe your favorite book as eminently readable or a terrific young musician as eminently talented. The adverb eminently is now a fancy way to say "very," but it started out meaning "conspicuously" or "up in a high place," from a Latin root meaning "be prominent." You once might have described a castle on a tall hill as eminently located. Today you're more likely to use the word in a formal context, to stress a positive adjective: "She is an eminently skilled dog trainer."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Over the past decade, they've become one of the most compelling live bands around – a little bit punk, a little bit electronic, a little bit 80s, eminently watchable and endlessly impressive.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Ali Louis Bourzgui’s somewhat unexpected yet eminently worthy triumph for his featured performance as the vampire with front-man magnetism, catalyzed the production’s thrilling virtuosity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
White House Spokesman Kush Desai says “Phelan is an eminently qualified pick to run the CEA and build on the tremendous legacy of Miran and Yared.”
From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026
Cologne is a personal choice, true — but it’s eminently regiftable, after one surreptitious spray, and it’s a luxury that can feel too extravagant to purchase for oneself, especially in a climate of economic uncertainty.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 17, 2026
The recurrent pattern in Burr’s political behavior that caught Hamilton’s eye, however, made him eminently vulnerable to the Catiline charge.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
