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

No one should expect the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven.

From Time

Now it would not be her work schedule but Carol’s imminent death that would limit the duration of their bond.

From Washington Post

The editor was correctly worried that his book, which was not slated to come out for weeks, would be overshadowed by the imminent publication of a massive series of stories on the papers, including their revelations about the Gulf of Tonkin incident.

From ProPublica

In addition, schools would have been told they could seclude students in unlocked spaces and use other types of restraints only when there is an “imminent danger of serious physical harm” to the student or others.

From ProPublica

Several alleged rioters have been arrested in the days following the insurrection, and the arrests of many more are likely imminent.

From Vox

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