definitions

preeminent

or pre-em·i·nent

[ pree-em-uh-nuhnt ]
/ priˈɛm ə nənt /
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adjective

eminent above or before others; superior; surpassing: He is preeminent in his profession.

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RELATED WORDS

transcendent, inimitable, unparalleled, unmatched, exceptional, dominant, preeminent, outstanding, top, well-known, famous, popular, prominent, main, noted, best, principal, full, dictatorial, arbitrary

Nearby words

preelection, preemergence, preemergent, preemie, preeminence, preeminent, preemphasis, preemployment, preempt, preemption, preemptive

Origin of preeminent

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin praeēminent- (stem of praeēminēns), present participle of praeēminēre to project forward, be prominent. See pre-, eminent

Related forms

pre·em·i·nent·ly, adverb

Synonym study

See dominant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pre-eminent

British Dictionary definitions for pre-eminent

pre-eminent

/ (prɪˈɛmɪnənt) /

adjective

extremely eminent or distinguished; outstanding

Derived Forms

pre-eminence, nounpre-eminently, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012