prominence

prominence — noun

1. the condition of being widely recognized, influential, or attracting public atte

1.nounB2
Definition

the condition of being widely recognized, influential, or attracting public attention for your achievements or qualities

Example

Trang rose to prominence in the art world after her first solo exhibition in Tokyo.

rise to prominence — collocation for becoming famous/important

The issue of air pollution gained prominence after the mayor's public health warning.

gain prominence — collocation for increasing in importance or visibility

Common collocations
  • rise to prominence
  • gain prominence
  • come to prominence
  • achieve prominence
  • international prominence
  • public prominence
  • sudden prominence
  • political prominence
  • prominence as a
Synonyms
  • fame

    Focuses on being well known by many people, often through media; slightly less formal than prominence.

  • importance

    Focuses on having great significance or value rather than being widely noticed.

  • eminence

    More formal; suggests high rank or achievement in a specific field, like science or the arts.

  • distinction

    Emphasizes excellence or special quality that sets someone apart, often with an award or honor.

Antonyms
  • obscurity

    The state of being unknown or unnoticed — opposite of being famous or widely recognized.

  • insignificance

    The state of having little importance or influence — opposite of being important or influential.

Grammar Patterns

prominence as [noun phrase]

rise to prominence

gain prominence

earn prominence

Usage Note

Often used with verbs like rise to, gain, achieve, or come to to describe someone or something becoming well known. The adjective form is prominent.

Common Mistakes

She gained prominence as a teacher and prominent.
She gained prominence as a teacher and became prominent.
Prominence is a noun; prominent is the adjective form.
The building has great prominence on the hill.' (meaning visibility)
The building stands in a prominent position on the hill.
The physical, jutting-out sense of prominence is rare in everyday English; use prominent (adjective) instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Prominence, fame, importance, eminence, and distinction all relate to being recognized or standing out, but they differ in emphasis. Prominence stresses being noticed and influential — you can be prominent in a small field without being a household name. Fame emphasizes wide public recognition, often through media coverage. Importance focuses on having great significance or value, whether or not it makes you well known. Eminence is more formal and suggests lasting, respected achievement within a profession, especially in academia or the arts. Distinction highlights quality that sets someone apart, often formally recognized through awards or honors. A scientist may have prominence in her discipline, fame after a TV appearance, eminence within her professional community, and distinction as a Nobel laureate.

fame ↗importance ↗eminencedistinction ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • rise to prominence
  • come to prominence
  • gain prominence
  • achieve prominence
  • bring something to prominence

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Prominence comes from Latin prominentia, meaning 'a jutting out or projection,' from prominere, meaning 'to stick out, project forward.' The word first appeared in English in the 1500s referring to physical things that stick out. By the 1700s it had developed the figurative meaning of 'standing out in importance or reputation,' which is the main meaning in modern English. The physical meaning is now mostly limited to anatomy (a bony prominence) and astronomy (a solar prominence).