Eminent vs Immanent vs Imminent: Here’s the Difference with Sentence Examples

Although these adjectives are related, their meanings are quite distinct and for the last two, often confused, even by native English speakers.

Eminent will be easiest to remember, because it contains e- for “out” and it means something or someone that really stands out, in a good way. People may say it means “famous,” but “well respected” would be more accurate:

Although the speaker was quite eminent in linguistics, you may not have heard of her.

Although eminent usually refers to people, it could be used for groups, books, theories, schools, and other things that can be respected—but not for pop songs or fashions, for which the idea of respect seems strange.

Imminent means “about to happen”:

We evacuated from the city to avoid its imminent destruction by the coming Tsunami.

Immanent, on the other hand, means “inherent, fundamentally part of, in-born, or naturally part of”:

The ability to learn languages is immanent in human beings, but not in apes.

The word immanent is very often confused with imminent by native English speakers, but using them interchangeably is still considered incorrect usage.

More Examples of How to Use "Eminent" in a Sentence

1. The eminent domain clause in the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution allows the government to take private property for public use, as long as the owner is compensated fairly.
2. Some argue that eminent domain should be used more sparingly, while others believe that it should be exercised more often.
3. The main concern with eminent domain is that it can be abused by government officials who want to seize property for their own gain.
4. The eminent professor was invited to speak at that university's commencement ceremony.
5. They say he's the most eminent mathematician of his generation.

More Examples of How to Use "Immanent" in a Sentence

1. Although it is often hidden from view, the immanent force is always at work, shaping everything around us.
2. According to my beliefs, an immanent spiritual force is always with us, surrounding us and pervading all things.
3. Some people believe that everything in the world is interconnected and that there is a force governing all of life called immanent energy.
4. My children are immanent in my heart.
5. Thomas believed that God was immanent in all things.

More Examples of How to Use "Imminent" in a Sentence

1. The imminent threat of nuclear war took hold in the minds of many who lived through the Cold War.
2. Although the storm was imminent, we continued with the festivities.
3. The immanent threat of global warming is a very real one.
4. According to the mayor, the immanent danger was so great that evacuation of the city needed to be ordered.
5. A decision is imminent, but it is a mere formality because the information has already been leaked to the media.