immediate

adjective

im·​me·​di·​ate i-ˈmē-dē-ət 

 British often  -ˈmē-jit

1

a

: occurring, acting, or accomplished without loss or interval of time : instant

an immediate need

b(1)

: near to or related to the present

the immediate past

(2)

: of or relating to the here and now : current

too busy with immediate concerns to worry about the future

2

a

: existing without intervening space or substance

brought into immediate contact

b

: being near at hand

the immediate neighborhood

3

: being next in line or relation

the immediate family

4

a

: acting or being without the intervention of another object, cause, or agency : direct

the immediate cause of death

b

: present to the mind independently of other states or factors

immediate awareness

c

: involving or derived from a single premise

an immediate inference

5

: directly touching or concerning a person or thing

the child's immediate world is the classroom

Synonyms

• instant
• instantaneous
• split-second
• straightaway

Examples of immediate in a Sentence

This requires your immediate attention.

The new restaurant was an immediate success.

This crisis calls for immediate action.

The response to the crisis was immediate.

The wildfire poses no immediate threat to any houses in the area.

The danger is not immediate.

They have evacuated everyone in the immediate area of the wildfire.

Many people suffered in the war's immediate aftermath.

The effect of the new policy will be unknown for the immediate future.

He was sitting to my immediate right.

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite the rapid success, the Offspring didn’t make the immediate jump to arenas, nor were the members quick to leave their daily lives behind. —Daniel Kohn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Burial is immediate, followed by the shiva — or seven days — in which the mourners receive visitors at home. —Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

As Israel’s offensive in Gaza hits the six-month mark, international bodies and human rights advocates have called for an urgent and immediate humanitarian ceasefire. —Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

His presence poses a direct and immediate threat to UCLA, but also to Oregon and Washington as the West Coast quartet enters the Big Ten next season. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024

And the effect is immediate because, as always, a successful look depends on the details. —Jana Ackermann, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2024

For Shekar, the impact on her career was immediate. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024

The ability of gray whales to adapt has long been known — but the frequency with which these behaviors were occurring suggested to some an immediate adaptive reaction to lack of food, or possibly behaviors no one had ever really paid heed. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024

The deaths came a day after Washington stepped aside and allowed the UN Security Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. —Abdelqadder Sabbah, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English immediat, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin immediatus, from Latin in- + Late Latin mediatus intermediate — more at mediate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Phrases Containing immediate

• immediate constituent
• immediate family

Kids Definition

immediate

adjective

im·​me·​di·​ate im-ˈēd-ē-ət 

1

: acting or being without anything else coming between

the immediate cause of disease

2

: being next in line or nearest in relationship

my immediate family

3

: closest in importance

our immediate needs

4

: acting or being without delay

needs immediate help

5

: not far away in time or space

Medical Definition

immediate

adjective

im·​me·​di·​ate

im-ˈēd-ē-ət, British often -ˈē-jit

1

a

: acting or being without the intervention of another object, cause, or agency : being direct

the immediate cause of death

b

: present to the mind independently of other states or factors

immediate awareness

2

: made or done at once

immediately adverb