immediately

1 of 2

adverb

im·​me·​di·​ate·​ly i-ˈmē-dē-ət-lē 

also -ˈmē-dit-

British often -ˈmē-jit-

1

: without interval of time : straightway

I'll make that call immediately.

2

: in direct connection or relation : directly

the parties immediately involved in the case

the house immediately beyond this one

immediately

2 of 2

conjunction

chiefly British

: as soon as

Synonyms of immediately

Adverb

• promptly
• instantly
• now
• directly

Conjunction

• when
• once

Examples of immediately in a Sentence

Adverb

the person immediately to my left

Dinner was served immediately after the ceremony.

The new law will become effective immediately.

Conjunction

Immediately you fill out this form, we can start processing your request.

give us a ring immediately you get back

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Attorneys representing the county and the deputies did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. —Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026

Yet restrictive regulations were immediately imposed on licensed operators anyway — a case of punishing the legal market for a serious black-market failure that federal law helped enable. —Rino Ferrarese, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026

Remove the pie from the oven and immediately sprinkle lightly with flaky salt. —Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 27 Feb. 2026

The developer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. —Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Conjunction

1839, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for immediately

• intermediately
• mediately

Kids Definition

immediately

adverb

im·​me·​di·​ate·​ly

im-ˈēd-ē-ət-lē

1

: with nothing between : directly

the person immediately to my left

2

: right away : at once

do it immediately