immediacy

noun

im·​me·​di·​a·​cy i-ˈmē-dē-ə-sē How to pronounce immediacy (audio)
British often -ˈmē-jə-sē
plural immediacies
Synonyms of immediacynext
1
: the quality or state of being immediate
the immediacy of a live performance
2
: something that is immediate
the immediacy of our need
usually used in plural
the basic immediacies of life

Examples of immediacy in a Sentence

Television coverage gave the war greater immediacy than it had ever before had. There is an immediacy to watching a live performance that you cannot get from hearing a recording.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The views of the art of directing provided by the participants in Nirenberg’s book are exquisitely detailed and tangy with emotional immediacy. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Patience and anticipation prevail over immediacy here. Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 6 Apr. 2026 That immediacy is a sensational feeling and hard to replicate any other way. Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026 Formed in 2023, the group works quickly, prioritizing immediacy over polish. Keegan Brady, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for immediacy

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of immediacy was in 1605

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Immediacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immediacy. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

immediacy

noun
im·​me·​di·​a·​cy im-ˈēd-ē-ə-sē How to pronounce immediacy (audio)
plural immediacies
1
: the quality or state of being immediate
2
: something that is of immediate importance
immediacies of daily life

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