immediate
adjective
im·me·di·ate
i-ˈmē-dē-ət 
British often -ˈmē-jit
1
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
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
Iwobi’s encouragement had an immediate impact.
—
Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, and Canada have maintained there should be an end to the war in Gaza, including the immediate release of all remaining hostages, and the understanding that Hamas would no longer be a leading authority in Gaza after the war.
—Mariam Khan, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2025
Both findings had already been teased earlier this month by the Wall Street Journal, leading to an immediate plunge in the stock price for Kenvue, the manufacturer of Tylenol.
—Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025
The calendar is a little light in the more immediate term, especially in the week ahead.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for immediate
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Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, and Canada have maintained there should be an end to the war in Gaza, including the immediate release of all remaining hostages, and the understanding that Hamas would no longer be a leading authority in Gaza after the war.
—Mariam Khan, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2025
Both findings had already been teased earlier this month by the Wall Street Journal, leading to an immediate plunge in the stock price for Kenvue, the manufacturer of Tylenol.
—Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025
The calendar is a little light in the more immediate term, especially in the week ahead.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for immediate
Cite this Entry
“Immediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immediate. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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