immediately

immediately — adverb

1. In a very short amount of time, with no waiting between the current moment and w

1.adverbA2
Definition

In a very short amount of time, with no waiting between the current moment and when something happens.

Example

As soon as Adina heard the fire alarm, she left the building immediately.

immediately at end of clause after a comma

If you feel any pain during the exercise, stop immediately and rest.

imperative + immediately

Common collocations
  • act immediately
  • respond immediately
  • stop immediately
  • leave immediately
  • call immediately
Synonyms
  • at once

    slightly more formal; common in British English

  • instantly

    emphasises that something happens in the exact same moment, with even less time than immediately

  • right away

    informal; very common in spoken English

  • directly

    British English; used informally to mean 'very soon' rather than 'at this exact moment'

Antonyms
  • later

    at a time in the future; opposite of 'without delay'

  • eventually

    after a long time or after some delay

Grammar Patterns

immediately [after verb]

[Imperative verb] + immediately

Usage Note

Common with imperative verbs such as stop, leave, call, and tell. Can be placed at the end of a clause ('I called him immediately') or at the start of a sentence followed by a comma ('Immediately, I called him') for stronger emphasis.

Common Mistakes

I will do it soon.' (when you mean instantly).
I will do it immediately.
'soon' means after some time; 'immediately' means with no wait at all.

2. In a position very near something or someone, with little or no space between th

2.adverbB1
Definition

In a position very near something or someone, with little or no space between them; or happening very soon before or after a particular time or event.

Example

The hotel is immediately next to the train station, so you can walk there in two minutes.

immediately next to [location]

The years immediately after the earthquake were the hardest for the community.

immediately after [time period]

Common collocations
  • immediately after
  • immediately before
  • immediately above
  • immediately below
  • immediately next to
  • immediately behind
Synonyms
  • directly

    interchangeable in this sense; 'directly opposite' = 'immediately opposite'

  • right

    informal; 'right next to', 'right after' — common in casual speech

  • just

    informal; 'just after', 'just behind' — emphasises the small gap

Antonyms
  • far

    at a great distance; the opposite of close proximity

  • long after

    with a significant time gap

  • long before

    with a significant time gap

Grammar Patterns

immediately + preposition + noun phrase

Usage Note

Subject is usually a place, building, or time period. Frequently paired with the prepositions after, before, above, below, behind, next to, and opposite to indicate close proximity with nothing in between.

Common Mistakes

The cinema is immediately far from here.
The cinema is immediately next to the square.
'immediately' in this sense only goes with words that mean 'close' (next to, above, after), not with words that mean 'far'.

3. In a way that involves a direct link or close relationship, with no other person

3.adverbB2
Definition

In a way that involves a direct link or close relationship, with no other person, thing, or step coming between two things.

Example

The reason for the machine's failure was not immediately apparent to the engineers.

immediately apparent

Anyone whose work is immediately connected to patient safety must attend the training.

immediately connected to

Common collocations
  • immediately apparent
  • immediately clear
  • immediately obvious
  • immediately responsible
  • immediately connected
  • immediately related
Synonyms
  • directly

    the closest synonym; 'directly responsible' = 'immediately responsible'

  • closely

    when describing relationships; 'closely related' has a similar meaning but suggests a strong link rather than a direct one

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

immediately + adjective (apparent/clear/obvious)

immediately + past participle (connected/related/affected)

Usage Note

Commonly modifies adjectives such as apparent, clear, obvious, responsible, connected, related, and affected. Typically used in formal, professional, or academic writing rather than in casual conversation.

Common Mistakes

This book is immediately good.' (vague use).
The connection between diet and sleep is immediately obvious.
this sense works with specific adjectives of connection or visibility, not general qualities.

immediately — conjunction

Word family

  • immediate
    adjectiveB1
  • immediacy
    nounC1
  • immediateness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All five words describe doing something without delay, but they differ in formality and timing. At once is slightly more formal than immediately and is common in British English ('He left at once'). Right away is informal and very common in everyday American and British speech ('I'll do it right away'). Instantly emphasises the shortest possible gap — so short that two events feel simultaneous ('She instantly recognised his voice'). Directly is used informally in British English to mean 'very soon' rather than 'at this exact moment' ('I'll be there directly'), whereas in American English it means 'straightforwardly' more than 'soon'. Promptly adds a sense of efficiency or proper timing ('She arrived promptly at nine'), suggesting that the action happens as expected or required, not just quickly.

at once ↗right awayinstantly ↗directly ↗promptly

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • immediately apparent
  • immediately clear
  • immediately obvious
  • immediately evident

Phrases

  • immediately following
  • immediately preceding
  • effective immediately

Prepositions

  • immediately after
  • immediately before
  • immediately following
  • immediately behind
  • immediately above
  • immediately below
  • immediately next to
  • immediately opposite

Etymology

LatinLate LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from Latin immediatus, where in- means 'not' and mediatus means 'in the middle'. So the original meaning was 'with nothing in the middle'. The word passed through Late Latin immediatus and then French immédiat before entering English in the early 1600s. The core idea — no gap, no waiting — has stayed the same for over 400 years.