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Synonyms

prominent

American  
[prom-uh-nuhnt] / ˈprɒm ə nənt /

adjective

  1. standing out so as to be seen easily; particularly noticeable; conspicuous.

    Her eyes are her most prominent feature.
    Antonyms:
    inconspicuous, unobtrusive

  2. standing out beyond the adjacent surface or line; projecting.

    Synonyms:
    protuberant, obvious

  3. leading, important, or well-known.

    a prominent citizen.
    Synonyms:
    distinguished, renowned, famed, famous, celebrated, eminent
    Antonyms:
    unknown, obscure
prominent British  
/ ˈprɒmɪnənt /

adjective

  1. jutting or projecting outwards

  2. standing out from its surroundings; noticeable

  3. widely known; eminent

"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

Other Word Forms

  • nonprominent adjective
  • overprominent adjective
  • prominently adverb
  • prominentness noun

Etymology

Origin of prominent

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin prōminent- (stem of prōminēns ), present participle of prominēre “to project, stand out,” equivalent to pro- pro- 1 + -minēre; imminent

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.

This process explains why ancient craters lack bright rays, while younger ones like Tycho, which formed about 108 million years ago, still display prominent streaks visible from Earth.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

Adam Back, a prominent Bitcoin developer, said the high-profile investigation was a case of "confirmation bias" and that he is not the person known as Satoshi Nakamoto.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

While Sandro Castro courts online audiences, his older relatives occupy more prominent roles.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Also, one prominent litigator, Antonia Apps, a trial lawyer and a former senior official at the Securities and Exchange Commission, joined the firm recently.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Soon I had traced on the paper a broad and prominent forehead and a square lower outline of visage: that contour gave me pleasure; my fingers proceeded actively to fill it with features.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.