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

He said such a ban should not be enforced unless there was "evidence of imminent violence".

Read more on BBC

Spain’s electricity-grid operator said there was no risk of an imminent second major blackout in the country after detecting two sharp voltage variations in recent weeks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Analysts suggest imminent, further base rate cuts by the Bank of England appear unlikely, and uncertainty always foreshadows a Budget.

Read more on BBC

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged controversy over his handling of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal Sunday, but called for their imminent release to be a moment of unity.

Read more on Barron's

With judges and regulators, Google is painting a picture of imminent collapse thanks to AI.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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