immediate

adjective

im·​me·​di·​ate i-ˈmē-dē-ət 

 British often  -ˈmē-jit

1

a

: occurring, acting, or accomplished without loss or interval of time : instant

an immediate need

b(1)

: near to or related to the present

the immediate past

(2)

: of or relating to the here and now : current

too busy with immediate concerns to worry about the future

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

Synonyms

• instant
• instantaneous
• split-second
• straightaway

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

Far from being a costly premium, waterless technologies like CO₂ dyeing deliver immediate, measurable operational value. —Ken Katz, Sourcing Journal, 5 May 2025

So, the immediate impact would be fairly significant. —CBS News, 4 May 2025

Post-Earnings Correlation Analysis: Investigate the historical links between the immediate stock reaction to earnings and its later medium-term performance to inform positioning post-announcement. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025

Despite finishing ninth in their first season back in the top-flight, Leeds suffered relegation back to the Championship in 2023, and failed to secure an immediate return back despite picking up 90 points and finishing third last year in the second tier. —Leon Imber, New York Times, 3 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English immediat, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin immediatus, from Latin in- + Late Latin mediatus intermediate — more at mediate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Phrases Containing immediate

• immediate constituent
• immediate family

Rhymes for immediate

• remediate
• intermediate

Kids 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

Medical Definition

immediate

adjective

im·​me·​di·​ate

im-ˈēd-ē-ət, British often -ˈē-jit

1

a

: acting or being without the intervention of another object, cause, or agency : being direct

the immediate cause of death

b

: present to the mind independently of other states or factors

immediate awareness

2

: made or done at once

immediately adverb