imminent

[im-uh-nuhnt]

adjective

1. likely to occur at any moment; impending.

   Her death is imminent.

   Synonyms: at hand, near
   Antonyms: remote, distant

2. projecting or leaning forward; overhanging.

imminent

/ ˈɪmɪnənt /

adjective

1. liable to happen soon; impending

2. obsolete,  jutting out or overhanging

Other Word Forms

• imminence noun
• imminently adverb
• imminentness noun
• unimminent 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

Current rules allow French police and firefighters to intervene in shallow water only to rescue people who appear to be in imminent danger.

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Plumb told the officer he was "definitely serious" about his plot against Ms Willoughby, leaving the officer fearing there was an "imminent threat" to her.

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One sustained note to flag an imminent arrest.

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Garcia wasn’t the only person who thought a retirement announcement was imminent — and he also wasn’t the only one who wanted to be sure to see James on his farewell tour.

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Bernstein’s Chaloff doesn’t think a recession is imminent, but he’s concerned about the effect of a still-sluggish labor market on consumer spending.

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Related Words

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