immediate

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adjective im·me·di·ate \ i-ˈmē-dē-ət , British often -ˈmē-jit \

Definition of immediate

1 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

2 :being next in line or relation

the immediate family

3 a :existing without intervening space or substance

brought into immediate contact

b :being near at hand

the immediate neighborhood

4 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

5 :directly touching or concerning a person or thing

the child's immediate world is the classroom

See immediate defined for English-language learners

See immediate defined for kids

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 of immediate from the Web

History has conceded the public end to the Whiskey Rebellion as an immediate victory for Hamilton and his Federalist vision.

— carrie hagen, Smithsonian, "The First Presidential Pardon Pitted Alexander Hamilton Against George Washington," 29 Aug. 2017
Elsewhere in the storm's immediate aftermath, the Coast Guard had rescued 20 people from boats and barges in distress, said Capt.

— howard koplowitz, AL.com, "Minor earthquake recorded in northeast Alabama; 8th in region this year," 27 Aug. 2017
New York reliever Tommy Kahnle threw at Detroit star Miguel Cabrera, which led to his immediate ejection—along with his manager, Joe Girardi.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "This Yankees-Tigers Brawl Was the Real Deal (VIDEO)," 24 Aug. 2017
Maybe you associate New York with the fizzy glamour of those midcentury Rock Hudson-Doris Day romances, with the noir shadows of the immediate postwar years or with the penthouses and streetcars of classic studio comedies.

— a.o. scott, New York Times, "The City So Nice They Can’t Stop Making Movies About It," 24 Aug. 2017
Most women preferred light to medium pressure, either directly on the clitoris or in the immediate area, with about one in ten preferring firm pressure.

— leigh cowart, The Cut, "New Research Is Taking Women’s Sexual Pleasure Seriously," 23 Aug. 2017
Tragically poignant, Eric Garner’s last words as he was killed after being placed in a chokehold by police represent both the immediate and metaphorical strangulation of black people.

— aryn frazier, Teen Vogue, "What I Realized as a Counter-Protester at the Charlottesville White Nationalist Rally," 14 Aug. 2017
Willis and Lawson have the potential to make an immediate impact for a team desperately needing more output from its front seven.

— alexa philippou, Cincinnati.com, "5 for Friday: Bengals rookies Lawson, Willis rush for rotation," 10 Aug. 2017
Ross made an immediate impact with a 9-yard touchdown reception in the 2016 opener against Southern Mississippi but caught just one pass the rest of the season.

— jon hale, The Courier-Journal, "UK passing game could receive boost from Kayaune 'Godzilla' Ross," 9 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'immediate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of immediate

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

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immediate Synonyms

Synonyms

instantaneous, instant, split-second, straightaway

Antonyms

indirect, secondhand

Related Words

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

Near Antonyms

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

IMMEDIATE Defined for English Language Learners

immediate

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adjective

Definition of immediate for English Language Learners

: happening or done without delay
: happening or existing now
: important now

IMMEDIATE Defined for Kids

immediate

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adjective im·me·di·ate \ i-ˈmē-dē-ət \

Definition of immediate for Students

1 :happening without any delay

I need immediate help.

2 :occurring or existing now

There is no immediate danger.

3 :having importance now

Our immediate concern is getting help.

4 :not far away in time or space

the immediate future

the immediate area

5 :being next in line or nearest in relationship My immediate family includes my parents, brothers, and sisters.

6 :having nothing between

The room is to your immediate right.

Medical Dictionary

immediate

adjective im·me·di·ate \ im-ˈēd-ē-ət, British often -ˈē-jit \

medical Definition of immediate

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

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IMMEDIATE Defined for English Language Learners

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medical Definition of immediate

immediately

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