Immediately

/ɪˈmiːdiətli/

adverbBeginner🔥Very CommonTime
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

At once; without delay; instantly.

/ɪˈmiːdiətli/

adverbneutralBeginner
Time

Without any delay; instantly.

The fire alarm sounded, and everyone evacuated immediately.

💡 Simply: It means 'right now!' or 'as quickly as possible.' Like, if someone says, "Call me immediately!" they mean you should call them super fast, without waiting.

👶 For kids: Right away, like when you want ice cream, and you want it *now*!

More Examples

2

Please submit your application immediately after you complete it.

3

If you have any questions, contact us immediately.

How It's Used

General

"I need to leave immediately."

Medical

"The patient required immediate attention."

Business

"Please respond to this email immediately."

2

In a direct or unmediated way; directly or without intervention.

/ɪˈmiːdiətli/

adverbneutralmedium
Connection

In a direct or unmediated way.

The information was accessible immediately to all members of the team.

💡 Simply: This means something happens directly, with no middle person or steps in between. It's like a straight connection. For instance, understanding something immediately can feel like you understood it at first glance.

👶 For kids: It means there's no middle-man. Like if your friend tells you a secret *directly* (immediately!), it's just you and them.

More Examples

2

She felt the effects of the medicine immediately.

3

The solution came to him immediately after he heard the problem.

How It's Used

Philosophy

"He understood the problem immediately, without needing further explanation."

Literature

"The character experienced the sensation immediately."

Tip:Imagine a direct line, no detours. No intermediaries.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

immediately after

Happening directly or very soon after something else.

"He left immediately after the movie ended."

From Medieval Latin *immediātē* (directly, without anything intervening), from Latin *immediātus* (without anything intervening, direct), from *in-* (not) + *mediātus* (placed in the middle, intervened).

The word's use became widespread in the 17th and 18th centuries, coinciding with the growth of written communication and the emphasis on efficient action.

Memory tip

Imagine a clock striking the present moment - IMMEDIATE!

Word Origin

LanguageMedieval Latin
Original meaning

"without anything intervening; directly"

respond immediatelycontact immediatelyleave immediatelyact immediatelyreport immediately

Common misspellings

immediatlyimmedietlyimediately

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written