immediate

immediate

adjective

Definition of IMMEDIATE

1

done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time <felt immediate relief after taking the painkiller>

Synonyms immediate, instant, split-second, straightaway

Related Words summary; fast, hit-and-run, prompt, quick, rapid, speedy, swift

Near Antonyms dilatory, tardy; slow, sluggish; prolonged, protracted; deferred, delayed

2

done or working without something else coming in between <she is my immediate superior, so I report to her>

Synonyms firsthand, immediate, primary, unmediated

Related Words clinical, empirical (also empiric); efficient, proximate; hands-on

Antonyms indirect, secondhand

3

done, carried out, or given without delay <immediate treatment saved the victim of the massive heart attack>

Synonyms immediate, punctual, speedy, timely

Related Words apt, quick, ready, swift, willing; opportune, seasonable; early

Near Antonyms delinquent, latish, overdue; behind, behindhand, delayed, detained; dilatory, laggard, slow

Antonyms belated, late, tardy

4

not being distant in time, space, or significance <for the victims of the terrorist attack, the incident is as immediate as yesterday's news>

Synonyms close-up, immediate, near, nearby, neighboring, next-door, nigh, proximate

Related Words abutting, adjacent, adjoining, bordering, contiguous; approaching, coming, forthcoming, oncoming, upcoming; accessible, convenient, handy; close-in, hand-to-hand

Near Antonyms divorced, removed, separated

Antonyms away, deep, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote

5

existing or in progress right now <we need to solve the immediate problems before working on the more long-term ones>

Synonyms current, extant, immediate, instant, ongoing, present-day

Related Words contemporary, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, recent, red-hot, space-age, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date; being, breathing, existent, existing, living

Near Antonyms coming, future, unborn; completed, concluded, done, ended, finished, over, terminated, through, up; ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, archaic, dated, fusty, musty, noncontemporary, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé; ago, bygone, erstwhile, former, past