immediately

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English immediatly, equivalent to immediate +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ɪˈmiːdi.ətli/, /əˈmiːdi.ətli/
  • (colloquial) IPA(key): /ɪˈmiːdʒətli/, /əˈmiːdʒətli/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: im‧me‧di‧ate‧ly, im‧me‧diate‧ly

Adverb[edit]

immediately (not comparable)

  1. In an immediate manner; instantly or without delay.
    I hope we can begin immediately.
    • 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 96:
      His unruly hair was slicked down with water, and as Jessamy introduced him to Miss Brindle his face assumed a cherubic innocence which would immediately have aroused the suspicions of anyone who knew him.
    • 2011 November 12, “International friendly: England 1-0 Spain”, in BBC Sport[1]:
      Spain failed to move through the gears despite exerting control for lengthy spells and a measure of perspective must be applied immediately to the outcome.
    • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:immediately.
  2. Without any intervening time or space.
    • 1951 June, “British Railways Standard Class "5" 4-6-0 Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 399:
      A tri-tone chime whistle, operated from the cab by a flexible cable passing down the right hand handrail, is mounted on the top of the smokebox immediately behind the chimney.

Synonyms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Conjunction[edit]

immediately

  1. 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.

Synonyms[edit]