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   Im·me·di·ate

   /iˈmēdēət/

   

   adjective

   • 1. occurring or done at once; instant: "the authorities took no immediate action" Similar instantinstantaneouson-the-spotpromptswiftspeedyrapidquickexpeditioussuddenhurriedhastyprecipitateabruptlightningwhirlwindovernightinformal:snappyp.d.q. (pretty damn quick)literary:fleetratherare:alacritousOpposite delayedgradual
   • ▪ relating to or existing at the present time: "the immediate concern was how to avoid taxes" Similar currentpresentexistingexistentactualextanturgentpressingarchaic:instantOpposite pastfuture
   • 2. nearest in time, relationship, or rank: "a funeral with only the immediate family in attendance" Similar recentnot long pastjust goneoccurring recentlyOpposite remote
   • ▪ nearest or next to in space: "roads in the immediate vicinity of the port" Similar nearestnearcloseclosestnext-dooradjacentadjoiningabuttingcontiguousproximateOpposite distant
   • ▪ (of a relation or action) without an intervening medium or agency; direct: "coronary thrombosis was the immediate cause of death" Similar directprimaryOpposite indirect
   • 3. (of knowledge or reaction) gained or shown without reasoning; intuitive.

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘nearest in space or order’): from Old French immediat, or from late Latin immediatus, from in- ‘not’ + mediatus ‘intervening’, past participle of mediare (see mediate).

   Derivatives

   • 1. immediateness noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • I

     1

   • M

     3

   • M

     3

   • E

     1

   • D

     2

   • I

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

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