em|i|nent

em|i|nent «EHM uh nuhnt», adjective.

1. above all or most others; outstanding; famous; distinguished; exalted: »

Washington was eminent both as general and as President. Censure is the tax a man pays to the public for being eminent (Jonathan Swift).

2. conspicuous; noteworthy: »

The judge was a man of eminent fairness.

3. high; lofty: »

upon an high mountain and eminent (Ezekiel 17:22).

4. standing out above other things; projecting; prominent.

╂[< Latin ēminēns, -entis, present participle of ēminēre be prominent < ex- out + minēre to jut]

Synonym Study 1 Eminent, prominent, distinguished mean outstanding. Eminent implies standing high among or above all others of the same kind because of excellence in something: »

Wordsworth and Coleridge were eminent English poets.

Prominent implies standing out from the crowd, and suggests being well known at least locally: »

The president of the bank is a prominent man in his home town.

Distinguished implies being set off from others of the same kind because of outstanding qualities and suggests being well known to the public: »

President Eisenhower was also a distinguished general.

Usage eminent, imminent. Eminent means distinguished, exalted: »

The new ambassador was eminent as both diplomat and scholar.

Imminent means likely to happen soon: »

Convinced that bankruptcy was imminent, the company president called a meeting of the directors.