immediate

English

Etymology

From Old French immediat, from Late Latin immediātus (“without anything between”), from Latin in + mediātus, past participle of mediō (“to halve, to be in the middle”), from medius (“middle”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪˈmi.di.ət/, /ɪˈmi.di.ɪt/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪˈmiːdɪət/, /ɪˈmiːdʒət/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: im‧me‧di‧ate

Adjective

immediate (comparative more immediate, superlative most immediate)

1. Happening right away, instantly, with no delay.

   Computer users these days expect immediate results when they click on a link.

   • c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     Assemble we immediate council.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

     When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him.

2. Very close; direct or adjacent.

   immediate family;  immediate vicinity

   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     You are the most immediate to our throne,

3. Manifestly true; requiring no argument.
4. (computer science, of an instruction operand) Embedded as part of the instruction itself, rather than stored elsewhere (such as a register or memory location).
5. (procedure word, military) Used to denote that a transmission is urgent.

   Bravo Three, this Bravo Six. Immediate! We are coming under fire from the north from an unknown enemy, over!

6. (procedure word, military) An artillery fire mission modifier for two types of fire mission to denote an immediate need for fire: Immediate smoke, all guns involved must reload smoke and fire. Immediate suppression, all guns involved fire the rounds currently loaded and then switch to high explosive with impact fused (unless fuses are specified).

   Hotel Two-Niner, this is Bravo Six. Immediate suppression at grid November-Kilo four-five-three two-one-five. Danger Close. I authenticate Golf Echo, over.

Synonyms

• (happening right away): instant, present; see also Thesaurus:instantaneous
• (very close): close, nearby; see also Thesaurus:near
• (manifestly true): self-evident, indubitable

Derived terms

Related terms

• immediacy

Translations

Anagrams

• metiamide

Italian

Adjective

immediate f pl

1. feminine plural of immediato

Latin

Adjective

immediāte

1. vocative masculine singular of immediātus