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 ensuing attack is staged with harrowing, heart-in-mouth immediacy, shot by Jun with propulsive, handheld looseness and mud on the lens. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026

The immediacy of the author’s words is further heightened by extensive footage shot by his wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, following a joint decision to document Rushdie’s treatment and recovery. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026

Even Reilly’s hazier moments have an astounding immediacy. —Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026

Recurring parentheticals create nooks on the page, opening portals onto passing thoughts or faraway places (a balmy beach, a portside terrace), while forays into the present tense momentarily suspend narrative time with liveness and immediacy, particularly at moments of heightened emotion. —Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 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