imminence

noun

im·mi·nence | \ˈi-mə-nən(t)s

\

Definition of imminence

1 : something imminent especially : impending evil or danger

2 : the quality or state of being imminent

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Examples of imminence in a Sentence

since the end of the Cold War, nuclear annihilation has seemed to be a less likely imminence

Recent Examples on the Web

The young man protests that is a statement of the obvious, but Roger insists that there is a precise moment in your life when this recognition of imminence seeps into your bones, and then cannot be shaken off ever again. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago-set 'Support Group for Men' a chance to laugh at our current #MeToo moment," 2 July 2018 No one knows those numbers better than Pompeo, who spent a lot of time with the CIA's Korea Mission unit, assessing the scope and imminence of its nuclear capabilities. — David E. Sanger, Anchorage Daily News, "Analysis: Koreans set the table for a deal. Will Trump be able to close it?," 28 Apr. 2018 Should children be taught of the imminence of their own death in much the same way that they are taught their ABCs? — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "'Three Tall Women' on Broadway: In a masterful Albee production starring Laurie Metcalf, this trio could be you," 30 Mar. 2018 Easter’s imminence brought on a new level of splendor. — Dale Hrabi, WSJ, "An Absurdly Inexpensive European Holiday: The Luxury of Krakow," 29 Mar. 2018 And as a result, census statistics will continue to roil the public discussion of diversity, by exaggerating white decline and the imminence of a majority-minority United States. — Richard Alba, Washington Post, "There’s a big problem with how the census measures race," 6 Feb. 2018 While in San Juan there are talks about the imminence of a humanitarian crisis, for him, his wife and two children, this crisis has already begun. — Eliván Martínez Mercado, miamiherald, "‘In this situation, human pride crumbles,’ says a resident of isolated communities in Puerto Rico," 27 Sep. 2017 The imminence of the threat is visible from the top of a hill just behind Ms. Soukat’s house: a sprawling development of condos wrapped around a golf course, built by a major real estate developer, Addoha. — Aida Alami, New York Times, "In a Fight for Land, a Women’s Movement Shakes Morocco," 7 May 2017 Mr. Lopez, who typically works in impressionistic black and white, shot in the early mornings and at dusk, when the light itself embodied the imminence of change. — New York Times, "The Way New York Lives Now," 15 June 2017

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

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immigration pressure

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The first known use of imminence was in 1606

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