Basic Details
Word: Eminence
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Fame and great respect earned in a particular field; also, in older or formal use, a piece of high ground.
Synonyms: prominence, distinction, fame, greatness
Antonyms: obscurity, insignificance
Sounds like: imminence (the state of being about to happen very soon)
How to Spell Eminence
Syllables: em - i - nence
Tricky part: There is one m, and the ending is ence, not ance. Do not mix it up with imminence, which starts with im and has a double m.
Watch out for: emminence, eminance, emenence
Memory tip: People reach eminence through excellence, and both words end in ence.
Usage Examples
Example 1: C. V. Raman's eminence as a physicist was confirmed by the Nobel Prize in 1930.
Example 2: The old fort stands on a rocky eminence above the town.
Example 3: Many of the musicians who perform at the festival are artists of great eminence.
Fun Fact
Cardinals of the Catholic Church are addressed by the title Your Eminence.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
One of these words is spelt right. Pick the meaning of that word.
1. negligance 2. obediance 3. eminence 4. persistance
a) willingness to follow orders or rules
b) failure to take proper care
c) continuing firmly in spite of difficulty
d) fame and respect earned in a field
Show answer
d) fame and respect earned in a field. Eminence is spelt right; negligence, obedience and persistence also end in ence.
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to eminence as used in the sentence:
The surgeon rose from a small village school to great eminence in the field of medicine.
a) prominence
b) fame
c) obscurity
d) distinction
Show answer
c) obscurity. Eminence is being widely known and respected; obscurity is being unknown.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
emminence
a) e
b) n
c) m
d) i
Show answer
c) m. Eminence has a single m, like eminent.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The fishermen hurried back to shore because of the ____ of the cyclone.
a) immanence
b) eminance
c) eminence
d) imminence
Show answer
d) imminence
2. A writer of eminence is ____.
a) young and unknown
b) well known and respected
c) not yet published
d) careless with facts
Show answer
b) well known and respected
