eminent
- 01 C1 Advanced
famous, respected, and important, especially in a professional or academic field.
distinguished, prominent, or noteworthy; typically used to describe individuals with a high reputation in a specific domain.
Simple“The university invited an eminent scientist to speak at the graduation ceremony.”
In context“The conference featured several eminent historians who debated the long-term socio-economic impacts of the industrial revolution.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it modifies, though it can follow a linking verb.
Teacher's tipLearners frequently confuse this with 'imminent'. Remind them that 'eminent' relates to 'fame' while 'imminent' relates to 'time'.
PitfallThe danger of a storm is eminent. The danger of a storm is imminent.Do not confuse 'eminent' (famous/respected) with 'imminent' (about to happen soon).
Antonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
used to describe a quality that is very clear or strong.
noteworthy or remarkable in degree; used to emphasize a particular positive quality.
Simple“The judge was a man of eminent good sense and fairness.”
In context“The author writes with eminent clarity, making even the most complex philosophical arguments accessible to a general audience.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
standing out above other things; high up.
physically high, lofty, or protruding. This sense is largely restricted to older texts or specific technical descriptions of terrain.
Simple“The castle was built on an eminent hill overlooking the entire valley.”
In context“From their eminent position atop the ridge, the scouts could track the movement of the caravan across the plains below.”
eminent vs imminent — Eminent describes a person of high status; imminent describes an event that is about to occur.
“When Adam Riches bounds on stage in character as eminent comedy critic Caliban Monroe, it looks like his show The Critic’s Way might land uncomfortably closer to the bone.”
“For the eminent sociologist Paul Gilroy , responsibility for the row lies with the “culture warriors” who appointed Arday, as well as “racist critics” – and comes at a critical time for the sector.”
From Middle French éminent, from Latin present participle ēminēns, ēminentis, from verb ēmineō (“to project, protrude”), from ex- (“out of, from”) + mineō, related to mons (English mount). Compare with imminent. Unrelated to emanate, which is instead from mānō (“to flow”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.