immanent

American  

[im-uh-nuhnt] / ˈɪm ə nənt /

adjective

1. remaining within; indwelling; inherent.

   Synonyms:

   intrinsic, inborn, innate

   Antonyms:

   superimposed, extrinsic

2. Philosophy. (of a mental act) taking place within the mind of the subject and having no effect outside of it.

3. Theology. (of the Deity) indwelling the universe, time, etc.

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immanent British  

/ ˈɪmənənt /

adjective

1. existing, operating, or remaining within; inherent

2. of or relating to the pantheistic conception of God, as being present throughout the universe Compare transcendent

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Other Word Forms

• immanence noun
• immanency noun
• immanently adverb
• nonimmanent adjective
• nonimmanently adverb
• unimmanent adjective
• unimmanently adverb

Etymology

Origin of immanent

First recorded in 1525–35; from Late Latin immanent- (stem of immanēns ), present participle of immanēre “to stay in,” equivalent to im- “in” ( im- ¹ ) + man(ēre) “to stay” + -ent- adjective suffix ( -ent ); remain

Example Sentences

Nonetheless, they worked within the existing social and political structure to bore new lines of flight out of it through a process of immanent critique.

From Salon • Nov. 10, 2024

And not only the real — after all, even the basest trivialities are real — but the omnipresent, the immanent and the imminent, the stuff of being and nonbeing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2021

In the summer of 1914, each of the great powers reached the conclusion that war was inevitable, and that trying to stay out of the immanent conflict would lead to national decline.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2020

The spiritual practices that kidnapped Africans carried with them to the United States affirmed the immanent presence of their ancestors.

From Washington Post • Dec. 10, 2019

If you mean “inherent,” “present,” or “dwelling within,” the word is the rarely heard immanent.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner