immediately

English

Etymology

From Middle English immediatly, equivalent to immediate +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈmiːdi.ətli/, /əˈmiːdi.ətli/
• (colloquial) IPA^(key): /ɪˈmiːdʒətli/, /əˈmiːdʒətli/

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• Hyphenation: im‧me‧di‧ate‧ly, im‧me‧diate‧ly

Adverb

immediately (not comparable)

1. In an immediate manner; instantly or without delay.

   I hope we can begin immediately.

   • 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 96:

     His unruly hair was slicked down with water, and as Jessamy introduced him to Miss Brindle his face assumed a cherubic innocence which would immediately have aroused the suspicions of anyone who knew him.

   • 2011 November 12, “International friendly: England 1-0 Spain”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Spain failed to move through the gears despite exerting control for lengthy spells and a measure of perspective must be applied immediately to the outcome.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:immediately.
2. Without any intervening time or space.
   • 1951 June, “British Railways Standard Class "5" 4-6-0 Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 399:

     A tri-tone chime whistle, operated from the cab by a flexible cable passing down the right hand handrail, is mounted on the top of the smokebox immediately behind the chimney.

Synonyms

• forthwith, now, right away, straightaway, tout de suite; see also Thesaurus:immediately

Translations

Conjunction

immediately

1. directly (as soon as), instantly, the moment that. Indicates that the independent clause describes something that occurs immediately after the dependent clause's referent does.
   • 1924 (compiled and published posthumously), Oswald Chambers, "The Witness of the Spirit" (reading for Oct. 22), My Utmost for His Highest:

     Immediately you transact on the Redemption and stop the impertinence of debate, God gives you the witness.

Synonyms

• as soon as
• directly after, immediately after, right after, etc.