imminence

noun im·mi·nence \ ˈi-mə-nən(t)s \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

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 of imminence from the Web

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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