immediately

[ ih-mee-dee-it-lee ]

adverb

1. without lapse of time; without delay; instantly; at once:

   Please telephone him immediately.

   Synonyms: forthwith

   Antonyms: later

2. with no object or space intervening.
3. closely:

   immediately in the vicinity.

4. without intervening medium or agent; concerning or affecting directly.

conjunction

1. Chiefly British. the moment that; as soon as.

immediately

/ ɪˈmiːdɪətlɪ /

adverb

1. without delay or intervention; at once; instantly

   it happened immediately

2. very closely or directly

   this immediately concerns you

3. near or close by

   he's somewhere immediately in this area

conjunction

1. subordinating at the same time as; as soon as

   immediately he opened the door, there was a gust of wind

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of immediately¹

A late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; immediate, -ly

Synonym Study

Immediately, instantly, directly, presently were once close synonyms, all denoting complete absence of delay or any lapse of time. Immediately and instantly still almost always have that sense and usually mean at once: He got up immediately. She responded instantly to the request. Directly is usually equivalent to soon, in a little while rather than at once: You go ahead, we'll join you directly. Presently changes sense according to the tense of the verb with which it is used. With a present tense verb it usually means now, at the present time: The author presently lives in San Francisco. She is presently working on a new novel. In some contexts, especially those involving a contrast between the present and the near future, presently can mean soon or in a little while: She is at the office now but will be home presently.

Example Sentences

Musk and Ramaswamy immediately announced that they would “not go gently,” and spoke of attacking government waste.

From Slate

He wrote to Smyth instructing him to immediately stop the Zambesi Ministries camps.

From BBC

Forty-four-year old Jason Leanders, who went on the camp that immediately followed Guide’s death, said he was beaten three to four times a day by Smyth, who would put his hands into his pants to check he had not put on extra layers to cushion his buttocks.

From BBC

I am most immediately concerned about possible deportations, raids and camps, and restrictions of people’s rights.

From Salon

Amnesty said the weapons could be used to commit or facilitate serious rights violations, adding that the French government must ensure the companies "immediately stop the supply of this system to the UAE".

From BBC

Related Words

• directly
• forthwith
• instantly
• promptly
• rapidly
• shortly
• soon
• urgently