immediacy

[ih-mee-dee-uh-see]

noun

plural

immediacies 

1. the state, condition, or quality of being immediate.

2. Often immediacies. an immediate need.

   the immediacies of everyday living.

3. Philosophy.

   1. immediate presence of an object of knowledge to the mind, without any distortions, inferences, or interpretations, and without involvement of any intermediate agencies.

   2. the direct content of the mind as distinguished from representation or cognition.

Word History and Origins

Origin of immediacy¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; immedi(ate) + -acy

Example Sentences

Perhaps, but it also gave an immediacy bordering on desperation to a story of teenage identity, poisonous social media and murder.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Puppets have an immediacy that also makes them fun to perform with and to improvise with.”

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In an age of digital immediacy, film offers up these rare moments of unknowing, these chances for spontaneity.

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A music video has the power to capture today’s culture, tomorrow’s stars, and yesterday’s immediacy.

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But there’s no severity or immediacy in her tears.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• closeness