immediate
adjective
im·me·di·ate
i-ˈmē-dē-ət 
British often -ˈmē-jit
1
2
a
: existing without intervening space or substance
brought into immediate contact
b
: being near at hand
the immediate neighborhood
3
: being next in line or relation
the immediate family
4
a
: acting or being without the intervention of another object, cause, or agency : direct
the immediate cause of death
b
: present to the mind independently of other states or factors
immediate awareness
c
: involving or derived from a single premise
an immediate inference
5
: directly touching or concerning a person or thing
the child's immediate world is the classroom
Examples of immediate in a Sentence
This requires your immediate attention.
The new restaurant was an immediate success.
This crisis calls for immediate action.
The response to the crisis was immediate.
The wildfire poses no immediate threat to any houses in the area.
The danger is not immediate.
They have evacuated everyone in the immediate area of the wildfire.
Many people suffered in the war's immediate aftermath.
The effect of the new policy will be unknown for the immediate future.
He was sitting to my immediate right.
Recent Examples on the Web
Biden calls Israeli leaders The decision to hold back from broader and immediate action this week underlined the competing pressures on Netanyahu's government in the aftermath of the more than 300 drones and ballistic and cruise missiles fired by Iran on Saturday night.
—
Samia Nakhoul, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
Hence, Andonovski’s labeling them as an immediate contender.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2024
Despite the immediate hiring doldrums, the state’s budget woes — including costs for unemployment claims — and stubbornly high inflation, experts think California will not fall into a recession or lead the country into a downturn.
—Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Nevertheless, for now and certainly in the immediate aftermath of June 1, don’t expect any modifications to India’s Modi-fication.
—Michael Kugelman, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
In late February, U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez revoked Black’s probation but then sentenced him to time served at the detention center, paving the way for his immediate release.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
Is Dark Matter that different from immediate predecessors Backspacer, Lightning Bolt, and Gigaton?
—Morgan Enos, SPIN, 19 Apr. 2024
Poland lies on the western border of Ukraine and took in many refugees who fled from Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2024
This photograph is one of a series Dijkstra made of women in the immediate aftermath of giving birth.
—Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Samia Nakhoul, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
Hence, Andonovski’s labeling them as an immediate contender.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2024
Despite the immediate hiring doldrums, the state’s budget woes — including costs for unemployment claims — and stubbornly high inflation, experts think California will not fall into a recession or lead the country into a downturn.
—Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Nevertheless, for now and certainly in the immediate aftermath of June 1, don’t expect any modifications to India’s Modi-fication.
—Michael Kugelman, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
In late February, U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez revoked Black’s probation but then sentenced him to time served at the detention center, paving the way for his immediate release.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
Is Dark Matter that different from immediate predecessors Backspacer, Lightning Bolt, and Gigaton?
—Morgan Enos, SPIN, 19 Apr. 2024
Poland lies on the western border of Ukraine and took in many refugees who fled from Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2024
This photograph is one of a series Dijkstra made of women in the immediate aftermath of giving birth.
—Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'immediate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near immediate
Cite this Entry
“Immediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immediate. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
immediate
adjective
im·me·di·ate
im-ˈēd-ē-ət
1
: acting or being without anything else coming between
the immediate cause of disease
2
: being next in line or nearest in relationship
my immediate family
3
: closest in importance
our immediate needs
4
: acting or being without delay
needs immediate help
5
: not far away in time or space
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