eminent
adjectivefamous and respected for your work
Eminent = excellent and respected.
Eminent vs imminent
One describes a person. The other describes an event that is just around the corner.
2 wordsaudio · quiz
Quick answer
Eminent means famous and respected. Imminent means about to happen very soon.
imminent
adjectiveabout to happen very soon
Imminent = immediately: it is almost here.
The difference at a glance
| Word | Type | Means | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eminent | adjective | famous and respected for your work | She is an eminent professor of law. | |
| imminent | adjective | about to happen very soon | A storm is imminent. |
See each one in a sentence
adjective
eminent
Examples
She is an eminent professor of law.
He is eminent in the field of medicine.
Common mistake
Not: An imminent scientist gave the talk.
Say: An eminent scientist gave the talk.
A respected, famous person is eminent.
adjective
imminent
Examples
A storm is imminent.
The company's collapse seemed imminent.
Common mistake
Not: The eminent arrival of the train was announced.
Say: The imminent arrival of the train was announced.
An event about to happen is imminent.
Pick the right word
Fill the gap
Read the sentence, then choose the word that fits.
Now use them yourself
Write or say two sentences, one with each word, in a real conversation.