- immediate */*/*/
- UK [ɪˈmiːdɪət] / US [ɪˈmɪdɪət]
adjective
1) happening or done now, without any delay
Our government must take immediate action.
The rebels demanded the immediate release of the prisoners.
with immediate effect (= starting now):Restrictions on advertising had an immediate impact on rates of teenage smoking.
I handed in my resignation, with immediate effect.
a) your immediate reaction to something is the first thing you think, feel, or do when it happensMy immediate response was to say yes.
The announcement brought immediate denunciation from environmental bodies.
b) existing now and needing urgent actionThere doesn't seem to be any immediate danger.
The French threat was the most immediate and damaging.
c) [only before noun] existing in the period of time directly before or after an eventimmediate aftermath:in the immediate prewar period
the immediate future:terrible pictures of the immediate aftermath of the earthquake
The two men have different plans for the immediate future.
2) [only before noun] immediate aims, wishes, or needs are of the greatest importance and are dealt with firstOur immediate aim is to qualify for next year's finals.
3) [only before noun] someone in an immediate relationship to you is closely connected to youShe is my immediate superior (= the person directly in charge of me).
immediate family (= your parents, children, brothers, and sisters):members of the President's immediate entourage
People who have immediate family on the plane are asked to contact this number.
4) [only before noun] next to a place or person, or a very small distance away from themimmediate vicinity (= area):There are several pleasant walks in the immediate vicinity.
•immediate predecessor/successor
— the person who comes directly before or after you in a particular job or relationshipa decision made by his immediate predecessor at the Foreign Office
English dictionary. 2014.