immediacy
noun
im·me·di·a·cy
i-ˈmē-dē-ə-sē 
British often -ˈmē-jə-sē
plural immediacies
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
Her sobering memories are accompanied by stark, cold daylight, shot with a handheld camera to express immediacy and intimacy.
—
Courtney Howard, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
That rawness and immediacy comes at the expense of a deeper probe into Renaud’s career or the increasing danger journalists face in places like Ukraine and Gaza.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
Ultimately, what this study’s findings highlight is that planning for a slow-moving, politically contentious issue like sea-level rise, one that doesn’t have the immediacy of a wildfire or an earthquake, is complex and constantly evolving.
—Marcos Magaña, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
This immediacy also strengthens the potency all the thematic threads Luigi explores.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for immediacy
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Courtney Howard, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
That rawness and immediacy comes at the expense of a deeper probe into Renaud’s career or the increasing danger journalists face in places like Ukraine and Gaza.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
Ultimately, what this study’s findings highlight is that planning for a slow-moving, politically contentious issue like sea-level rise, one that doesn’t have the immediacy of a wildfire or an earthquake, is complex and constantly evolving.
—Marcos Magaña, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
This immediacy also strengthens the potency all the thematic threads Luigi explores.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for immediacy
Cite this Entry
“Immediacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immediacy. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
immediacy
noun
im·me·di·a·cy
im-ˈēd-ē-ə-sē
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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