promontory

noun

prom·​on·​to·​ry ˈprä-mən-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce promontory (audio)
plural promontories
Synonyms of promontorynext
1
a
: a high point of land or rock projecting into a body of water
b
: a prominent mass of land overlooking or projecting into a lowland
2
: a bodily prominence

Synonyms of promontory

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Examples of promontory in a Sentence

stood on the windswept promontory overlooking the bay Cape May is Delaware Bay's largest promontory.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Avista, located within The Cliff Bay, looks straight out over the Atlantic from a natural promontory above the coast. — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026 It's known for its Llevant golden sand beach, with the place to be a mirador at its eastern end, on the Punta del Cavall promontory that overlooks the coast. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 2 June 2026 Wailua Nui Luau is set near on a grassy promontory overlooking the mouth of the Wailua River, one of the most important ancient Hawaiian sites in the entire state. — Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026 From the near-panoramic window of our room at the Spindrift, we were greeted each morning by sea otters floating on their backs in the kelp beds, pods of dolphins arcing through the swell and the occasional seal hauled out on a nearby promontory. — Alexandra Genova, TheWeek, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for promontory

Word History

Etymology

Latin promunturium, promonturium; probably akin to prominēre to jut forth — more at prominent

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of promontory was in 1548

Rhymes for promontory

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Browse Nearby Words

promontoried
promontory
promorphology
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Cite this Entry

“Promontory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promontory. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

promontory

noun
prom·​on·​to·​ry ˈpräm-ən-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce promontory (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
plural promontories
: a high point of land sticking out into the sea

Medical Definition

promontory

noun
prom·​on·​to·​ry ˈpräm-ən-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- How to pronounce promontory (audio)
plural promontories
: a bodily prominence: as
a
: the angle of the ventral side of the sacrum where it joins the vertebra
b
: a prominence on the inner wall of the tympanum of the ear

More from Merriam-Webster on promontory

Nglish: Translation of promontory for Spanish Speakers

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