eminently
Americanadverb
adverb
Usage
What does eminently mean? Eminently means highly or very. It’s an adverb that’s typically used to modify (describe) adjectives, especially positive ones, as in She is eminently qualified. Example: These versions are eminently better than the ones that were presented to us previously.
Etymology
Origin of eminently
First recorded in 1620–30; eminent ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
Use the word eminently to emphasize a positive quality. You could describe your favorite book as eminently readable or a terrific young musician as eminently talented. The adverb eminently is now a fancy way to say "very," but it started out meaning "conspicuously" or "up in a high place," from a Latin root meaning "be prominent." You once might have described a castle on a tall hill as eminently located. Today you're more likely to use the word in a formal context, to stress a positive adjective: "She is an eminently skilled dog trainer."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The eminently sane Mr. Smith understands the need to shorten such timelines to better deter China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
The war is a distant drumbeat, its threat ever audible to Steele’s underemployed, eminently draftable characters from 9,000 miles away.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026
Blaming the vetting process when Lord Mandelson's post-conviction relationship with Epstein was eminently searchable stretches credibility, however.
From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2026
“Kevin Warsh’s academic credentials, private sector success, and prior experience on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors make him eminently qualified to serve as the next Fed Chairman,” said White House spokesman Kush Desai.
From Barron's ● Feb. 5, 2026
He “was eminently engaging and social and he had a keen sense of humor,” his partners wrote.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
