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

Formed in 2023, the group works quickly, prioritizing immediacy over polish. —Keegan Brady, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026

The focus is on character and theme, which brings a sense of relevant immediacy to the past. —Marta Balaga, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026

The immediacy of the impact depends on the various planting seasons for each region. —Fatma Tanis, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026

That rawness and immediacy comes at the expense of a deeper probe into Renaud’s career or the increasing danger journalists face in places like Ukraine and Gaza. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026

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