immediacy

noun

im·​me·​di·​a·​cy i-ˈmē-dē-ə-sē How to pronounce immediacy (audio)
 British often  -ˈmē-jə-sē
plural immediacies
1
: the quality or state of being immediate
2
: something that is immediate
usually used in plural

Examples of immediacy in a Sentence

Television coverage gave the war greater immediacy than it had ever before had. There is an immediacy to watching a live performance that you cannot get from hearing a recording.
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.
The immediacy and interactivity of social media platforms amplified the outrage, encouraging group mobilization. Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025 Ben Hania lights a connective fuse between documentary and drama, using the actual recordings of the panicked girl and the emergency workers — the latter played by actors who hold the screen with pulsing immediacy. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Sep. 2025 The motor will reportedly only offer 322hp, but that’s a lot for a car under 1,000kg, particularly with the immediacy of electric torque. James Morris, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025 This brand-new 131-foot model combines the spirit and sleekness of a sailing yacht with the immediacy and speed of a motoryacht. Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for immediacy

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of immediacy was in 1605

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Cite this Entry

“Immediacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immediacy. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

immediacy

noun
im·​me·​di·​a·​cy im-ˈēd-ē-ə-sē How to pronounce immediacy (audio)
plural immediacies
1
: the quality or state of being immediate
2
: something that is of immediate importance
immediacies of daily life

More from Merriam-Webster on immediacy

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