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immediate

Pronunciation: /ɪˈmiːdɪət/
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Definition of immediate

adjective

  • 1occurring or done at once; instant:the authorities took no immediate action the book’s success was immediate
  • relating to or existing at the present time:the immediate concern was how to avoid taxes
  • 2nearest in time, relationship, or rank:no changes are envisaged in the immediate future his immediate superior in the department
  • nearest or next to in space:roads in the immediate vicinity of the port
  • (of a relation or action) without an intervening medium or agency; direct:coronary thrombosis was the immediate cause of death
  • 3 Philosophy (of knowledge or reaction) gained or shown without reasoning; intuitive.

Derivatives

immediateness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'nearest in space or order'): from Old French immediat, or from late Latin immediatus, from in- 'not' + mediatus 'intervening', past participle of mediare (see mediate)

Spelling help

Spell immediate and the related word immediacy with a double m.

immediate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of immediate in the US English dictionary

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