preeminent

US: /priˈɛmənənt/ ,(prē em′ə nənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pre•em•i•nent or pre-em•i•nent /priˈɛmənənt/   adj. 

1. above or before others in some quality;
   superior;
   outstanding:
   the preeminent physicist.

pre•em•i•nence, n. [uncountable]
pre•em•i•nent•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pre•em•i•nent  (prē em′ə nənt), adj. 

1. eminent above or before others;
   superior;
   surpassing:
   He is preeminent in his profession.

Also, pre-em′i•nent. 

• Latin praeēminent- (stem of praeēminēns), present participle of praeēminēre to project forward, be prominent. See pre-, eminent
• late Middle English 1400–50

pre•em′i•nent•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

distinguished, peerless, supreme. See dominant. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pre-eminent / prɪˈɛmɪnənt/ adjective

1. extremely eminent or distinguished; outstanding

pre-ˈeminence noun

pre-ˈeminently adverb