prominence
C1Formal to Neutral. Common in academic, professional, and news media contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The state of being important, well known, or noticeable.
A thing that projects from something, especially a physical feature that stands out (e.g., a ridge, a bump). The state of being in a conspicuous or leading position in a particular sphere.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an abstract noun denoting importance or conspicuousness. The physical/geological sense is more specialized. Often implies a status that is either deserved/earned or simply observed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or frequency. Both use the word identically.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK political and media discourse (e.g., 'rise to prominence'). In US media, 'high-profile' is a frequent synonym.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + to + prominence (rise/come)[verb] + prominence + [preposition] (achieve/gain prominence in)give [object] prominenceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in the prominence (rare)”
- “a place of prominence”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a company's market position or brand visibility. 'The startup gained prominence after its innovative ad campaign.'
Academic
Used to discuss the significance of a theory, figure, or finding. 'Darwin's theory achieved prominence in the scientific community.'
Everyday
Often used in news or conversation about people becoming famous. 'The actor first came to prominence in the 1990s.'
Technical
In geography/geology: a projecting feature like a hill or cliff. 'The radar identified a rocky prominence on the seabed.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The issue was given undue prominence in the tabloid press.
- He rose to prominence through his work in community organising.
- A sharp prominence of rock marked the cliff face.
American English
- The senator gained national prominence after the hearings.
- The app came to prominence almost overnight.
- The MRI showed a small bony prominence.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She is a musician of great prominence.
- The tower is a prominent landmark. (adjective form)
- The documentary brought the artist's work to greater prominence.
- Environmental issues have grown in prominence in recent elections.
- The policy accords undue prominence to economic concerns over social ones.
- His theoretical framework achieved prominence despite initial scepticism from peers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PROMINent mountain; it stands out and is important in the landscape → PROMINENCE.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS HEIGHT/VISIBILITY (rise to prominence, give prominence to).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'promise' (обещание).
- Прямой перевод 'выдающееся положение' или 'известность'. Физическое значение соответствует 'выступ'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'prominence' as a countable adjective (e.g., 'a prominence person' – incorrect; use 'prominent').
- Misspelling as 'prominance'.
- Confusing with 'prevalence' (which means how common/widespread something is).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'prominence' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Prominence' strongly implies being noticeable, visible, or famous, while 'importance' is more about significance or value, which may be private or not widely recognised.
Yes, for physical objects that stick out (a rocky prominence) and for abstract concepts like brands or ideas that become highly visible.
Mostly neutral, but often has a positive connotation of deserved recognition. It can be negative if used with 'undue', suggesting something is overemphasised.
'Rise to prominence' and 'come to prominence' are the most frequent collocations.
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