prominent
UK /ˈpɹɒmɪnənt/ · US /ˈpɹɑmɪnənt/ adjective, noun
Forms prominents
- adjective Standing out, or projecting; jutting; protuberant. “The bird was perching on the prominent ledge at the top of the rocks”
- adjective Likely to attract attention from its size or position; conspicuous. “Place the slogan in a more prominent position.”
- adjective Eminent; distinguished above others. “prominent members of the press”
- noun Any of various moths having a conspicuous projection on the inner margin of the wings.
- noun (historical) In Nazi concentration camps, an inmate entrusted with minor supervisory duties and rewarded with perquisites.
Synonyms
extuberant outstanding bulging exserted jutting obtrusive projecting projectory promontorial protruding protuberant protuberous salient attention-grabbing eye-catching flashy conspicuous glossy grabby high-profile spectacular striking big large
Antonyms
improminent discreet inconspicuous inevident inobtrusive low-profile noteless obscure unconspicuous unevident unobtrusive average
Etymology
From obsolete French prominent (compare proéminent), from Latin prōminēns, present active participle of prōmineō (“jut out, to project”), from prō (“before, forward”) + mineō (in compounds, “jut, project”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Standing out, or projecting, beyond the line surface of something; jutting; protuberant; in high relief; as, a prominent figure on a vase.
- adjective Hence; Distinctly manifest; likely to attract attention from its size or position; conspicuous; as, a prominent feature of the face; a prominent building.
Etymology [L. prominens, -entis, p. pr. of prominere to jut out, to project; pro before, forward + minere (in comp.) to jut, project: cf. F. prominent. See Imminent, Eminent.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “prominent”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details