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.
So whether you’re writing a complaint, navigating a market during times of geopolitical strife or selecting an eminently quaffable spirit, the same rule applies: A little judgment can go a long way with your money.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026
They face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and have an eminently winnable FA Cup fifth round tie at League One side Mansfield Town.
From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026
“That location is Salieri’s increasingly addled brain and what happens within that brain strikes me as eminently contemporary.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026
“Kevin Hassett is an eminently qualified PhD economist with a great background,” Bessent said on Fox.
From Barron's • Dec. 16, 2025
Bananas and other tropical Asian crops for which Africa’s climate is eminently suitable, and which today are among the most productive staples of tropical African agriculture, were unable to reach Africa by land routes.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
