Etymology
Origin of imminence
From the Late Latin word imminentia, dating back to 1600–10. See imminent, -ence
Explanation
Imminence is when something is just about to occur. You might talk about the imminence of snow on a cold, cloudy winter morning. The noun imminence is good for describing the quality of something that's likely to happen soon. It comes from the adjective imminent, or "about to happen." A small country might worry about the imminence of invasion from a larger country, or you could predict the imminence of your dog running to bark at the door after hearing him growl at a noise outside. The Latin root word is imminere, "to overhang, impend, or be near."
Vocabulary lists containing imminence
"Marigolds" by Eugenia Coller
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Slay
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Angela's Ashes
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Imminence isn’t exclusive to rock bands, but it is a thing good rock bands do very well, and it might be something only music can do.
From Washington Post • Sep. 28, 2021
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
