imminent

imminent — adjective

1. used to describe a dangerous, important, or unavoidable event that feels so clos

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

used to describe a dangerous, important, or unavoidable event that feels so close you expect it to happen at any moment — like a war before the first shot is fired, or a storm when the first drops are seconds away.

Example

A second earthquake was imminent — rescue workers warned it could strike within hours.

be + imminent + dash + time reference clause

With dark clouds gathering overhead, Leila knew a storm was imminent.

Common collocations
  • imminent danger
  • imminent threat
  • imminent collapse
  • imminent arrival
  • imminent attack
  • imminent death
  • appear imminent
  • seem imminent
  • become imminent
  • face imminent [something]
Synonyms
  • impending

    strongly negative connotation; suggests something threatening is about to happen (closer to 'imminent' than other synonyms)

  • looming

    more visual and menacing; suggests the event appears large and threatening on the horizon

  • approaching

    more neutral; simply means getting nearer without the urgency or threat of 'imminent'

  • forthcoming

    neutral or positive; used for information, events, or opportunities that will happen soon

Antonyms
  • distant

    far off in time; the opposite of 'close at hand'

  • remote

    very unlikely to happen soon, if at all

Grammar Patterns

be + imminent

seem/become/appear + imminent

imminent + noun

Usage Note

Typically describes serious or negative events — danger, war, disaster, collapse, or major change. Unlike 'likely' or 'soon', it suggests the event is so close it feels unavoidable. Common in news reports, formal announcements, and crisis situations.

Common Mistakes

The bus arrival is imminent in three minutes.
The bus is about to arrive in three minutes.
Imminent is used for events of great importance or danger, not for routine scheduled events.
Imminent rain is possible next week.
Rain is imminent
take an umbrella now.' — Imminent means right now or very soon, not at some distant point.

Word family

  • imminently
    adverbC2
  • imminence
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that will happen soon, but they differ in urgency and connotation. 'Imminent' and 'impending' are the closest, both carrying a sense of threat — but 'imminent' stresses that the event is right at the door, while 'impending' focuses on the feeling that something bad is hanging over you. 'Looming' adds a visual, menacing quality: a looming crisis appears large and unavoidable on the horizon. 'Approaching' is the most neutral, simply describing something drawing nearer in time. 'Forthcoming' stands apart because it is neutral or positive — a forthcoming album or announcement is expected, not feared. For example: 'The report warned that an asteroid strike was imminent.' / 'With layoffs looming, staff felt anxious.' / 'The approaching deadline gave everyone a scare.'

impendingloomingapproachingforthcoming ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • imminence
  • imminent danger
  • imminent threat
  • imminent collapse
  • imminent arrival
  • imminent attack
  • imminent death

Adverbs

  • clearly imminent
  • apparently imminent
  • immediately imminent
  • perhaps imminent

Phrases

  • face imminent [something]
  • in imminent danger of
  • be imminent
  • seem imminent
  • become imminent

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin 'imminēre' (to overhang, to threaten), made up of 'in-' (onto, toward) and '-minēre' (to project, jut out). The original picture was of something hanging over you, ready to fall — a cliff edge above your head. English borrowed it in the early 1500s, keeping that sense of something close and threatening.