While the words "eminent" and "imminent" sound similar, they have very different meanings. Eminent refers to prominent and distinguished people whereas imminent refers to something that is about to occur.
Comparison chart
 | Eminent | Imminent |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | "Eminent" means standing above others in quality or position; "people in high places"; "the high priest"; "eminent members of the community" | "Imminent" means about to happen, occur, or take place very soon |
| Pronunciation | IPA: /'ɛmɪnənt/ | IPA: /ˈɪmɪnənt/ or /ˈɪmənənt/ |
| Synonyms | Distinguished, Prominent, Renowned, Superior | Impending, Forthcoming, Looming |
| Related words | eminence, eminently, preeminent | imminence, imminently |
| Examples | "The conference was graced by the presence of several eminent scientists"; "The award was given to an eminent historian who had dedicated his life to studying the medieval period." | "The weather forecast warned of an imminent thunderstorm."; "The CEO announced that major organizational changes were imminent, causing a buzz among the employees." |
Eminent vs Imminent Usage
If you mean 'famous' or 'superior,' use the word eminent. If you mean 'impending', or 'about to happen', then that is imminent.
Furthermore, if you mean 'present, inherent,' use the word immanent.
Examples of eminent vs imminent
Eminent
- The White House state dinner hosted a gathering of eminent personalities from various countries.
- She studied under an eminent professor who was a pioneer in neuroscience.
- The gallery hosted an exhibition by an eminent' artist known for his abstract paintings.
- He was an eminent figure in the field of robotics, admired for his innovative designs.
Imminent
- When America dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, the Allies realized that victory was imminent.
- The sudden drop in barometric pressure indicated that a storm was imminent.
- As the opposing armies lined up on the battlefield, the sense of imminent conflict was palpable.
- The CEO's retirement is imminent, leading to much speculation about his successor.
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