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

took immediate action

requires immediate attention

b(1)

: near to or related to the present

the immediate past

our immediate future

(2)

: of or relating to the here and now : current

an immediate threat

too busy with immediate concerns to worry about the future

(3)

: close to a particular time or event

the immediate aftermath of the storm

2

a

: existing without intervening space or substance

brought into immediate contact

sitting to my immediate right

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 of immediate

• instantaneous
• instant

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

Wi Sung-lac revealed no immediate progress on the lingering sanctions over THAAD, and sidestepped giving a direct answer on the submarine issue. —Se Eun Gong, NPR, 2 Nov. 2025

Anything that suggests smoke is escaping somewhere other than straight up and out deserves immediate attention. —Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025

The protection included 14 National Guard troops tasked with perimeter security, while local police provided immediate security. —CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025

The inspirations for the Love Connection parody were Miami Vice's Tubbs and Crockett, though Hall acknowledged her most immediate lookalike. —Lex Goldstein, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for immediate

• remediate
• intermediate

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