imminent

[ im-uh-nuhnt ]

adjective

1. likely to occur at any moment; impending:

   Her death is imminent.

   Synonyms: near, at hand

   Antonyms: remote, distant

2. projecting or leaning forward; overhanging.

imminent

/ ˈɪmɪnənt /

adjective

1. liable to happen soon; impending
2. obsolete.
   jutting out or overhanging

Derived Forms

• ˈimminence, noun
• ˈimminently, adverb

Other Words From

• im·mi·nent·ly adverb
• im·mi·nent·ness noun
• un·im·mi·nent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imminent¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin imminent- (stem of imminēns ), present participle of imminēre “to overhang,” equivalent to im- im- ¹ + -min- from a base meaning “jut out, project, rise” ( eminent, mount ² ) + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of imminent¹

C16: from Latin imminēre to project over, from im- (in) + -minēre to project; related to mons mountain

Synonym Study

Imminent, Impending, Threatening all may carry the implication of menace, misfortune, disaster, but they do so in differing degrees. Imminent may portend evil: an imminent catastrophe, but also may mean simply “about to happen”: The merger is imminent. Impending has a weaker sense of immediacy and threat than imminent : Real tax relief legislation is impending, but it too may be used in situations portending disaster: impending social upheaval; to dread the impending investigation. Threatening almost always suggests ominous warning and menace: a threatening sky just before the tornado struck.

Example Sentences

Gävle Goat must be dreading the imminent holiday and his fifty-fifty chance of destruction.

From The Daily Beast

Yet, the ever-visionary Van Gogh still feels the possibility of acclaim after his imminent death.

From The Daily Beast

Its arrival, experts say, is not just inevitable but imminent.

From The Daily Beast

When crawling and walking are imminent, I talk with parents about getting the house ready.

From The Daily Beast

The only exception is military action to repel an imminent attack.

From The Daily Beast

William has thus been happily able to report to the society the approaching conversion of M'Bongo and his imminent civilization.

From Project Gutenberg

They tobogganed down hills without a brake at the imminent peril of their lives.

From Project Gutenberg

Altogether, we spent five consecutive days hovering around that collection of law-enforcers, in imminent risk of capture.

From Project Gutenberg

Fresh light may be shed on the matter by the battle now imminent, but I am cabling on reasoned existing facts.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet he kept on, hoping against imminent death itself that his words would reach some willing ear.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• forthcoming
• immediate
• impending
• inevitable
• likely
• looming
• possible
• probable
• unavoidable