immediately

1 of 2

adverb

im·​me·​di·​ate·​ly i-ˈmē-dē-ət-lē 

also -ˈmē-dit-

British often -ˈmē-jit-

1

: without interval of time : straightway

I'll make that call immediately.

2

: in direct connection or relation : directly

the parties immediately involved in the case

the house immediately beyond this one

immediately

2 of 2

conjunction

chiefly British

: as soon as

Synonyms of immediately

Adverb

• promptly
• instantly
• now
• directly

Conjunction

• when
• once

Examples of immediately in a Sentence

Adverb

the person immediately to my left

Dinner was served immediately after the ceremony.

The new law will become effective immediately.

Conjunction

Immediately you fill out this form, we can start processing your request.

give us a ring immediately you get back

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Nadal detailed his approach to managing the mental side of the sport in an essay immediately following his retirement in 2024. —Ava Wallace, New York Times, 21 May 2026

The airport said that the runway was immediately shut down and that emergency construction crews are on site to determine the cause of the sinkhole and make repairs. —James Powel, USA Today, 21 May 2026

The geography of displacement immediately began to shift. —Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026

Her attorney did not immediately return messages seeking comment. —ABC News, 20 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Conjunction

1839, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for immediately

• intermediately
• mediately

Kids Definition

immediately

adverb

im·​me·​di·​ate·​ly

im-ˈēd-ē-ət-lē

1

: with nothing between : directly

the person immediately to my left

2

: right away : at once

do it immediately