Definition of immediate
1a : acting or being without the intervention of another object, cause, or agency : direct the immediate cause of deathb : present to the mind independently of other states or factors immediate awarenessc : involving or derived from a single premise an immediate inference
2 : being next in line or relation the immediate family
3a : existing without intervening space or substance brought into immediate contactb : being near at hand the immediate neighborhood
4a : occurring, acting, or accomplished without loss or interval of time : instant an immediate needb (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
5 : directly touching or concerning a person or thing the child's immediate world is the classroom
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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 of immediate from the Web
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Security forces have cordoned off the area, and haven’t given any immediate details of the attack or said who may be behind it.
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No gifts at all for me, for my immediate family, for my appointees.
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Opposition leader Guillermo Endara, winner of May elections that were nullified by Noriega, was sworn in as president early Wednesday and was given immediate U.S. recognition.
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There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
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Needing immediate help in the bullpen, the team opted to place him on the DL and activate former major-leaguer Jorge De Leon.
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Then came a brutal 0 for 13 stretch from the end of the Florida series that spanned through the Georgia series, which came in the immediate aftermath of the resignation of associate head coach Corey Myers.
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The Get Down go back into production in the immediate future.
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The backup MDM is functioning properly and the astronauts are in no immediate danger, but until the new system is installed there will be no redundancy for a number of computer control systems on board the station.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'immediate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of immediate
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
IMMEDIATE Defined for English Language Learners
immediate
playDefinition of immediate for English Language Learners
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: happening or done without delay
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: happening or existing now
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: important now
IMMEDIATE Defined for Kids
immediate
playDefinition of immediate for Students
1 : happening without any delay I need immediate help.
2 : occurring or existing now There is no immediate danger.
3 : having importance now Our immediate concern is getting help.
4 : not far away in time or space the immediate future the immediate area
5 : being next in line or nearest in relationship My immediate family includes my parents, brothers, and sisters.
6 : having nothing between The room is to your immediate right.
Medical Dictionary
immediate
playMedical Definition of immediate
1a: acting or being without the intervention of another object, cause, or agency : being direct the immediate cause of deathb: present to the mind independently of other states or factors immediate awareness
2: made or done at once
immediately
adverbLearn More about immediate
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for immediate Spanish Central: Translation of immediate Nglish: Translation of immediate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of immediate for Arabic speakers
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