Immediately vs. Immediate — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 1, 2024
"Immediately" often refers to action taken without delay. While "immediate" describes something existing without delay,
Difference Between Immediately and Immediate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Immediate describes a condition or quality of being directly instant, without any intervening time or space, focusing on the nature of something being at hand or on the spot. Whereas immediately is an adverb used to describe the manner in which an action is performed, often indicating that something is done without any delay or hesitation.
Immediate often pertains to things or situations that are directly relevant or important at the present time, emphasizing proximity in terms of importance or location. On the other hand, immediately is used to signal the urgency or priority with which an action should be taken, underlining the time aspect rather than spatial or conceptual closeness.
In the context of responses or effects, immediate denotes a direct and instant reaction to stimuli, highlighting the absence of any lag between cause and effect. Conversely, immediately is used to describe the timing of the response, ensuring that the action follows right after the cause without any noticeable gap.
When considering planning or execution, immediate refers to priorities or needs that require instant attention or resolution, often used to triage or sort tasks based on urgency. Meanwhile, immediately dictates the timeframe within which these actions or decisions should be carried out, stressing the need for promptness.
Immediate can also describe relationships or proximity, such as in "immediate family," referring to those family members who are closely related by blood or marriage. However, immediately does not pertain to relationships but to the immediacy of actions or events, focusing purely on temporal aspects.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective
Adverb
Focus
Quality or condition of being direct or instant
Manner or timing of action
Contextual Use
Describing proximity, importance, or directness
Indicating urgency or immediate action
Example Use in a Sentence
"They live in the immediate vicinity."
"She left immediately after the meeting."
Related to
Proximity in importance, location, or relationship
Urgency or priority in timing
Compare with Definitions
Immediately
Directly after in time or order.
Immediately after dinner, we left for home.
Immediate
Occurring or present at the moment.
The immediate effect of the medication was relief.
Immediately
In a direct manner; closely.
The officer was standing immediately behind her.
Immediate
Directly relevant or important without any delay.
The immediate concern is the approaching final line.
Immediately
Indicating that something happens right away.
He answered the question immediately.
Immediate
Nearest in space or position; closest.
The immediate area was secured by the police.
Immediately
With no object or person in between; directly.
She reported the incident immediately to the authorities.
Immediate
Of or relating to the present time.
The report requires immediate attention.
Immediately
Bearing an immediate relation;
This immediately concerns your future
Immediate
Occurring at once; happening without delay
Needed immediate treatment for the injuries.
Immediately
Without delay.
Immediate
Of or near the present time
In the immediate future.
Immediately
Without an intermediary; directly
The parties immediately involved in the suit.
Immediate
Of or relating to the present time and place; current
"It is probable that, apart from the most immediate, pragmatic, technical revisions, the writer's effort to detach himself from his work is quixotic" (Joyce Carol Oates).
Immediately
As soon as; directly
They phoned immediately they reached home.
Immediate
Close at hand; near
In the immediate vicinity.
Immediately
In an immediate manner; instantly or without delay.
I hope we can begin immediately.
Immediate
Next in line or relation
Is an immediate successor to the president of the company.
Immediately
Directly (as soon as), instantly, the moment that. Indicates that the independent clause describes something that occurs immediately after the dependent clause's referent does.
Immediate
Acting or occurring without the interposition of another agency or object; direct
An immediate cause.
Immediately
In an immediate manner; without intervention of any other person or thing; proximately; directly; - opposed to mediately; as, immediately contiguous.
God's acceptance of it either immediately by himself, or mediately by the hands of the bishop.
Immediate
Happening right away, instantly, with no delay.
Computer users these days expect immediate results when they click on a link.
Immediately
Without interval of time; without delay; promptly; instantly; at once.
And Jesus . . . touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Immediate
Very close; direct or adjacent.
Immediate family;
Immediate vicinity
Immediately
As soon as. Cf. Directly, 8, Note.
Immediate
Manifestly true; requiring no argument.
Immediately
Without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening;
He answered immediately
Found an answer straightaway
An official accused of dishonesty should be suspended forthwith
Come here now!
Immediate
Embedded as part of the instruction itself, rather than stored elsewhere (such as a register or memory location).
Immediately
Near or close by;
He passed immediately behind her
Immediate
Used to denote that a transmission is urgent.
Bravo Three, this Bravo Six. Immediate! We are coming under fire from the north from an unknown enemy, over!
Immediate
An artillery fire mission modifier for to types of fire mission to denote an immediate need for fire: Immediate smoke, all guns involved must reload smoke and fire. Immediate suppression, all guns involved fire the rounds currently loaded and then switch to high explosive with impact fused (unless fuses are specified).
Hotel Two-Niner, this is Bravo Six. Immediate suppression at grid November-Kilo four-five-three two-one-five. Danger Close. I authenticate Golf Echo, over.
Immediate
Not separated in respect to place by anything intervening; proximate; close; as, immediate contact.
You are the most immediate to our throne.
Immediate
Not deferred by an interval of time; present; instant.
Death . . . not yet inflicted, as he feared,By some immediate stroke.
Immediate
Acting with nothing interposed or between, or without the intervention of another object as a cause, means, or agency; acting, perceived, or produced, directly; as, an immediate cause.
The immediate knowledge of the past is therefore impossible.
Immediate
Very close or connected in space or time;
Contiguous events
Immediate contact
The immediate vicinity
The immediate past
Immediate
Having no intervening medium;
An immediate influence
Immediate
Immediately before or after as in a chain of cause and effect;
The immediate result
The immediate cause of the trouble
Immediate
Of the present time and place;
The immediate revisions
Immediate
Performed with little or no delay;
An immediate reply to my letter
Prompt obedience
Was quick to respond
A straightaway denial
Common Curiosities
What does it mean when something is said to have an immediate effect?
It means the effect occurs directly and without delay after the cause.
How does immediately affect the timing of actions in sentences?
It specifies that actions should be performed right away, without any intervening time.
What does immediate mean?
Immediate describes something directly relevant or important without any delay.
How is immediately used in a sentence?
Immediately is used to indicate actions taken without delay, such as "She responded immediately."
Can immediate and immediately be used interchangeably?
No, they cannot be interchangeably used as "immediate" is an adjective and "immediately" is an adverb.
Can immediate refer to physical proximity?
Yes, it can refer to the nearest in space or position.
What is meant by immediate family?
It refers to one's closest family members, usually parents, siblings, and children.
Can something be immediate but not urgent?
Yes, it can be immediate in terms of proximity or relevance without necessarily being urgent.
Does immediately imply a response to something?
Often, it implies a prompt response to an event or situation.
Does immediately always refer to time?
Primarily, yes, it refers to doing something without any delay.
Can immediate be used to describe relationships?
Yes, it describes the closest relationships, like in "immediate family."
Is immediately more about action or condition?
It's more about the action, specifically the timing of the action.
Is immediate only used for time-sensitive situations?
While often used for time-sensitive situations, it also describes proximity in importance or location.
How does immediately relate to order of events?
It indicates that one event follows directly after another in time.
Can immediate and immediately be used in the same sentence?
Yes, they can be used together if describing both a quality and the timing of an action, such as "The immediate response was given immediately."
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
