immediacy

American  

[ih-mee-dee-uh-see] / ɪˈmi di ə si /

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of immediacy

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

Example Sentences

Their playing was electric in its immediacy, cogent in conception and executed with meticulous care—the orchestra sounding lush yet transparent, with enviably subtle dynamic shifts.

From The Wall Street Journal

That might sound counterintuitive to most people, but Platt grew up in the spotlight, and finds the immersive immediacy of live performance soothing.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• closeness