First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
preeminent
adjective pre·em·i·nent \-nənt\
: more important, skillful, or successful than others : better than others
Full Definition of PREEMINENT
: having paramount rank, dignity, or importance : outstanding, supreme
— pre·em·i·nent·ly adverb
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Origin of PREEMINENT
Middle English, from Late Latin praeeminent-, praeeminens, from Latin, present participle of praeeminēre to be outstanding, from prae- + eminēre to stand out — more at eminent
Related to PREEMINENT
- Synonyms
- arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, foremost, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme
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