immediate

American  

[ih-mee-dee-it] / ɪˈmi di ɪt /

adjective

1. occurring or accomplished without delay; instant.

   an immediate reply.

   Synonyms:

   instantaneous

   Antonyms:

   deferred, delayed

2. following or preceding without a lapse of time.

   the immediate future.

3. having no object or space intervening; nearest or next.

   in the immediate vicinity.

   Synonyms:

   proximate, close

   Antonyms:

   far, distant

4. of or relating to the present time or moment.

   our immediate plans.

5. without intervening medium or agent; direct.

   an immediate cause.

6. having a direct bearing.

   immediate consideration.

7. being family members who are very closely related to oneself, usually including one’s parents, siblings, spouse, and children.

   my immediate family;

   her immediate kin;

   his immediate relatives.

8. Philosophy. directly intuited.

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immediate British  

/ ɪˈmiːdɪət /

adjective

1. taking place or accomplished without delay

   an immediate reaction

2. closest or most direct in effect or relationship

   the immediate cause of his downfall

3. having no intervening medium; direct in effect

   an immediate influence

4. contiguous in space, time, or relationship

   our immediate neighbour

5. present; current

   the immediate problem is food

6. philosophy of or relating to an object or concept that is directly known or intuited

7. logic (of an inference) deriving its conclusion from a single premise, esp by conversion or obversion of a categorial statement

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Other Word Forms

• immediacy noun
• immediately adverb
• immediateness noun
• quasi-immediate adjective
• unimmediate adjective
• unimmediateness noun

Etymology

Origin of immediate

First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin immediātus; im- ², mediate (adjective)

Example Sentences

The plan, which calls for an immediate stop to the hostilities, was published online after a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan’s top diplomat, Ishaq Dar, in Beijing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Kane's potential absence is an immediate concern, leaving Tuchel short of viable alternatives when he needs them most, especially given these two toothless performances without him.

From BBC

British Airways owner IAG has said it has no immediate plans to lift prices as it has hedged its fuel costs with contracts to buy fuel at a price fixed before the conflict began.

From BBC

“I don’t have anything immediate to point to and say, this will make economic sense in the moon other than this is directionally correct,” he told the Times in a video posted on Feb. 26.

From MarketWatch

He said it meant being “completely subject” to the political jurisdiction of the U.S. and owing it “direct and immediate allegiance.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• actual
• prompt
• urgent