1
as in instantaneous
done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time
felt immediate relief after taking the painkiller
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in swift
done, carried out, or given without delay
immediate treatment saved the victim of the massive heart attack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in near
not being distant in time, space, or significance
for the victims of the terrorist attack, the incident is as immediate as yesterday's news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in current
existing or in progress right now
we need to solve the immediate problems before working on the more long-term ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of immediate
In a world facing overlapping environmental crises, choosing meat-free meals is one of the most immediate and effective ways individuals can reduce their climate impact.
—
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Robbery – The taking of anything of value from the control, custody or care of another person by force or threat of force and/or by putting the victim in fear of immediate harm.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2026
The dotted paths turn an abstract fact — Earth's viewpoint changing as planets move along their orbits — into something immediate and visual.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Usha Haley, a Wichita State University economist who studies emerging markets, says for those hurting the most, there is no immediate sign of change.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for immediate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for immediate
Adjective
-
The news cycle has gotten shorter in the 2020s, in large part thanks to social media and the instantaneous spread of information.—
-
But by 2026, the sheer magnitude of the debt means the impact of rate hikes is instantaneous, and thus, counterproductive.—
Adjective
-
If the recovering addicts’ primary task was to filter out women who wouldn’t qualify to sue—namely, those who didn’t have pelvic mesh or who did but weren’t in pain—Blake’s was to amp up the value of their lawsuits (and attorneys’ fees) by convincing them to have their mesh surgically removed.—
-
The other available Heat players who were out of the primary rotation Saturday were Keshad Johnson, Simone Fontecchio, Kasparas Jakucionis and Myron Gardner.—
Adjective
-
By Sunday, he was gone, a mercifully swift ending to painfully slow decline.—
-
Condemnation by Russian diplomats of the US raid to capture Maduro, of course, was swift and unequivocal.—
Adjective
-
Their concerns included the staff layoffs, the near budget shortfall in 2025, and changes to school operations.—
-
Many were shown as consumer-ready systems, complete with pricing, subscriptions, and near-term availability.—
Adjective
-
Act fast to shop Amazon’s current hottest deals because prices aren’t guaranteed to last through the month.—
-
The ardent fan can’t expect this running game to produce 164 yards in its current state; the reasonable fan of any NFL team can’t expect to go 10-for-18 on third- and fourth-downs, either.—
Adjective
-
View gallery - 5 images Fujifilm's been in the instant shoot-and-print camera business for more than 25 years now, and its newest offering is a fun departure from its longstanding lineup.—
-
The show premiered to instant acclaim, winning five 2025 Emmy Awards, and has already been renewed for a third season.—
Adjective
-
The study offers rare, direct evidence of this process by tracking cool gas across entire galaxies, something that was not possible before large surveys like MaNGA.—
-
But just like the Qatar embargo almost a decade ago, those rules seem to slacken when officials make direct accusations against fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members.—
Adjective
-
The E²ngel consortium partners, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and McPhy Energy Germany, carried out the timely qualification and validation, according to a press release.—
-
The dispute kept lawmakers for months from passing a timely budget, leading ultimately to a deal in June that required two extensions of Florida’s legislative session.—
Cite this Entry
“Immediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/immediate. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share