Prominent means standing out in a way that's easy to notice or widely recognized as important. A prominent nose is one that sticks out noticeably on someone's face. A prominent building in your town might be the tallest one or sit right in the center where everyone can see it. When something is geographically prominent, it rises above everything around it, like a prominent hill on an otherwise flat plain.

The word also describes people who are well-known and influential in their field. A prominent scientist might be someone whose research changed medicine. A prominent author is one whose books many people read and discuss. Being prominent usually means you've accomplished something significant that made others take notice.

In another sense, prominent can describe ideas or issues that receive lots of attention. During an election year, healthcare might be a prominent issue because candidates and voters talk about it constantly. A prominent feature of a new video game might be its multiplayer mode if that's what makes it special and draws players in.

All these meanings connect: whether it's a physical object, a person's reputation, or an important idea, something prominent rises above the background and catches your attention.