Eminent vs Imminent
eminent
famous/distinguished
imminent
about to happen
How to tell them apart
EMinent = famous, an EMinem-level celebrity. IMMinent = "I'M coming, right NOW" (double-M = about to happen any minute).
Test yourself
Which word fits from context? Pick one, then reveal the answer. This is exactly how the GRE tests these pairs.
Question 1
The university invited an historian, celebrated worldwide for her landmark studies, to deliver this year's keynote address.
Choose: eminent or imminent
Show answer
Answer: eminent
"celebrated worldwide for her landmark studies" signals distinguished = eminent; imminent (about to happen) cannot describe a person.
Question 2
As the storm clouds thickened and the wind howled, the villagers braced for what seemed an flood.
Choose: eminent or imminent
Show answer
Answer: imminent
"storm clouds thickened... braced for" signals an event about to happen = imminent; eminent (distinguished) does not describe an impending flood.
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