immediacy

noun

im·​me·​di·​a·​cy i-ˈmē-dē-ə-sē 

British often -ˈmē-jə-sē

plural immediacies

1

: the quality or state of being immediate

the immediacy of a live performance

2

: something that is immediate

the immediacy of our need

—usually used in plural

the basic immediacies of life

Synonyms of immediacy

• proximity

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

The numbers don’t do justice to the way the four power sources play together, however, delivering a seamless rush of force as the electric motors perfectly fill in the gaps in the engine’s power band, combining the immediacy of an EV with the emotionality of a high-revving V12. —Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025

Hiroshige’s dramatic composition contrasting nature and civilization creates a sense of movement and immediacy, and sends a shiver down the viewer’s spine—a feeling that García Sánchez also tried to capture. —Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025

The visual simplicity of mobile phone exchanges, personal photos and Fatma’s own images of her city and people, creates a sense of closeness and immediacy, drawing us into the daily reality of life under siege. —Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025

For now, Watkins is spending a lot of his time and energy figuring out a way to transfer the play’s energy and immediacy to a different medium. —Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

immediacy

noun

im·​me·​di·​a·​cy im-ˈēd-ē-ə-sē 

plural immediacies

1

: the quality or state of being immediate

2

: something that is of immediate importance

immediacies of daily life