immediate

[ ih-mee-dee-it ]

adjective

1. occurring or accomplished without delay; instant:

   an immediate reply.

   Synonyms: instantaneous

   Antonyms: deferred, delayed

2. following or preceding without a lapse of time:

   the immediate future.

3. having no object or space intervening; nearest or next:

   in the immediate vicinity.

   Synonyms: proximate, close

   Antonyms: far, distant

4. of or relating to the present time or moment:

   our immediate plans.

5. without intervening medium or agent; direct:

   an immediate cause.

6. having a direct bearing:

   immediate consideration.

7. being family members who are very closely related to oneself, usually including one’s parents, siblings, spouse, and children:

   my immediate family;

   her immediate kin;

   his immediate relatives.

8. Philosophy. directly intuited.

immediate

/ ɪˈmiːdɪət /

adjective

1. taking place or accomplished without delay

   an immediate reaction

2. closest or most direct in effect or relationship

   the immediate cause of his downfall

3. having no intervening medium; direct in effect

   an immediate influence

4. contiguous in space, time, or relationship

   our immediate neighbour

5. present; current

   the immediate problem is food

6. philosophy of or relating to an object or concept that is directly known or intuited
7. logic (of an inference) deriving its conclusion from a single premise, esp by conversion or obversion of a categorial statement

Derived Forms

• imˈmediacy, noun

Other Words From

• im·me·di·ate·ness noun
• im·me·di·ate·ly adverb
• qua·si-im·me·di·ate adjective
• un·im·me·di·ate adjective
• un·im·me·di·ate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of immediate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin immediātus; im- ², mediate (adjective)

Word History and Origins

Origin of immediate¹

C16: from Medieval Latin immediātus, from Latin im- (not) + mediāre to be in the middle; see mediate

Example Sentences

The pick, unveiled Tuesday, drew immediate pushback from some influential veterans groups and current and former lawmakers, who suggested that Hegseth’s ideological leanings, rather than any demonstrated expertise, lay behind him being tapped to run the vast U.S. defense complex.

From Los Angeles Times

“We do not anticipate that the Missouri ballot initiative will have an immediate or drastic impact on those numbers.”

From Salon

How dare scientists do research without an immediate practical application!

From Slate

But there were also immediate signs that Republicans may be willing to put aside their misgivings and give their president-elect a win.

From Salon

These people need immediate help in a county that is notoriously short on all levels of psychiatric treatment, from short-term to long-term.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• actual
• prompt
• urgent