Immediate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /i-ˈmē-dē-ət/ im·me·di·ate

Meaning & Definition of Immediate

Immediate (adjective)

  1. occurring, acting, or accomplished without loss or interval of time, instant
  2. near to or related to the present
  3. of or relating to the here and now, current

Immediate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time

    "felt immediate relief after taking the painkiller"

    similar: instant, instantaneous, split-second, straightaway
    related: summary, fast, hit-and-run, prompt, quick, rapid, speedy, swift
    near: dilatory, tardy, slow, sluggish, prolonged, protracted, deferred, delayed

  2. done or working without something else coming in between

    "she is my immediate superior, so I report to her"

    similar: direct, firsthand, primary, unmediated
    related: clinical, empirical, efficient, proximate, hands-on
    opposite: indirect, secondhand

  3. done, carried out, or given without delay

    "immediate treatment saved the victim of the massive heart attack"

    similar: prompt, punctual, speedy, timely
    related: apt, quick, ready, swift, willing, opportune, seasonable, early
    opposite: belated, late, tardy
    near: delinquent, latish, overdue, behind, behindhand, delayed, detained, dilatory, laggard, slow

  4. not being distant in time, space, or significance

    "for the victims of the terrorist attack, the incident is as immediate as yesterday's news"

    similar: close, close-up, near, nearby, neighboring, next-door, nigh, proximate, at hand, to hand
    related: abutting, adjacent, adjoining, bordering, contiguous, approaching, coming, forthcoming, oncoming, upcoming, accessible, convenient, handy, close-in, hand-to-hand
    opposite: away, deep, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote
    near: divorced, removed, separated

  5. existing or in progress right now

    "we need to solve the immediate problems before working on the more long-term ones"

    similar: current, extant, instant, ongoing, present, present-day
    related: contemporary, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, recent, red-hot, space-age, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date, being, breathing, existent, existing, living
    near: coming, future, unborn, completed, concluded, done, ended, finished, over, terminated, through, up, ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, archaic, dated, fusty, musty, noncontemporary, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé, ago, bygone, erstwhile, former, past

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Immediate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Immediate:

instant, instantaneous, split-second, straightaway, direct, firsthand, primary, unmediated, prompt, punctual, speedy, timely, close, close-up, near, nearby, neighboring, next-door, nigh, proximate, current, extant, ongoing, present, present-day, at hand, to hand

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Immediate

Words with the opposite meaning of Immediate:

indirect, secondhand, belated, late, tardy, away, deep, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote

Related Words for Immediate

summary, fast, hit-and-run, quick, rapid, swift, clinical, empirical, efficient, hands-on, apt, ready, willing, opportune, seasonable, early, abutting, adjacent, adjoining, bordering, contiguous, approaching, coming, forthcoming, oncoming, upcoming, accessible, convenient, handy, close-in

Near Antonyms of Immediate

dilatory, slow, sluggish, prolonged, protracted, deferred, delayed, delinquent, latish, overdue, behind, behindhand, detained, laggard, divorced, removed, separated, coming, future, unborn, completed, concluded, done, ended, finished, over, terminated, through, up, ancient

Origin & Etymology of Immediate

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

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Immediate

  • Topics: Descriptions / Adjectives

Words & Phrases Containing Immediate

immediate constituent, immediate family

Frequently Asked Questions about Immediate

What does "Immediate" mean?

"Immediate" means occurring, acting, or accomplished without loss or interval of time, instant. As an adjective, it is defined as: occurring, acting, or accomplished without loss or interval of time, instant. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Immediate"?

Other words for "Immediate" include instant, instantaneous, split-second, straightaway, direct, firsthand, primary and unmediated. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Immediate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Immediate"?

There are 76 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Immediate". Common alternatives include instant, instantaneous, split-second, straightaway, direct, firsthand, primary, unmediated, prompt and punctual.

What is the opposite of "Immediate"?

Antonyms of "Immediate" include indirect, secondhand, belated, late, tardy, away, deep and distant. Near antonyms include dilatory, slow, sluggish and prolonged.

How do you use "Immediate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Immediate" in a sentence: "felt immediate relief after taking the painkiller"; "she is my immediate superior, so I report to her"; "immediate treatment saved the victim of the massive heart attack".

Is "Immediate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Immediate" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Immediate"?

"Immediate" is pronounced /i-ˈmē-dē-ət/ and divided into syllables as im·me·di·ate.

What is the origin of the word "Immediate"?

"Immediate" comes from Middle English immediat, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin immediatus, from Latin in- + Late Latin mediatus intermediate mediate. First known use: 15th century.