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Meaning & use

immediately

adverb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ɪˈmiːdiətli/
US/ɪˈmiːdiətli/

Meanings

  1. adverb

    Without delay; at once.

    Grammar: Can be used at the end or beginning of a sentence, or before a verb.

    Patterns

    • do something immediately
    • immediately after something
    • immediately before something

    Please call me immediately if you need help.

    The pain stopped immediately after she took the medicine.

    He immediately knew he had made a mistake.

  2. adverb

    As soon as; directly after something else.

    Grammar: Often followed by 'after' or 'before' and a noun or clause.

    Patterns

    • immediately after
    • immediately before

    She left immediately after the meeting.

    Immediately before the storm, the sky turned dark.

Common combinations

immediately after
He called immediately after he got the news.
immediately available
The tickets are immediately available online.
immediately obvious
The answer was not immediately obvious.
immediately following
In the immediately following weeks, she practiced daily.

Synonyms and how they differ

at once
At once is a bit more formal and often used in commands, while immediately is common in all registers.
instantly
Instantly often suggests something happening in a single moment without any delay, while immediately can allow a very short delay.
right away
Right away is more informal and conversational than immediately.

Opposites

latereventually

Word family

immediate adjective
Happening or done without delay.
immediacy noun
The quality of being immediate or direct.

Commonly confused: immediately or soon?

immediately vs soon

Soon means 'in a short time from now' and allows some delay, while immediately means 'without any delay'.

Practice

If you feel dizzy, sit down ___.

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