immediate

adjective

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im·me·di·ate | \ i-ˈmē-dē-ət

, British often -ˈmē-jit \

Definition of immediate

1a : 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

2a : 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

4a : 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 More Example Sentences Learn More About immediate

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 North Korea didn’t have immediate comment on the Monday launch. — Timothy W. Martin, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2022 The Food and Drug Administration didn’t have an immediate comment. — NBC News, 11 Jan. 2022 On Friday, some nonprofit groups dedicated to improving the lives of the Valley’s farming communities withheld immediate comment on the report pending more time to study its grim forecasts. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2022 Philadelphia police offered no immediate comment on the case. — Maryclaire Dale, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2022 Noth's rep had no immediate comment when reached by PEOPLE regarding Gentile's allegations. — Dory Jackson, PEOPLE.com, 5 Jan. 2022 Philadelphia police offered no immediate comment on the case. — Maryclaire Dale, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Jan. 2022 Reps for Homme had no immediate comment on Tuesday. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2022 Dear Amy: Covid-19 ruined my best friend’s wedding plans, forcing them to postpone their ceremony twice and ultimately limiting it to just immediate family. — Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2021

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.