Origin: Latin suffix -ate
Immediate has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
very close or connected in space or time
"contiguous events"
"immediate contact"
"the immediate vicinity"
"the immediate past"
immediately before or after as in a chain of cause and effect
"the immediate result"
"the immediate cause of the trouble"
performed with little or no delay
"an immediate reply to my letter"
"a prompt reply"
"was quick to respond"
"a straightaway denial"
Happening right away, instantly, with no delay.
"Please take out your wallet for an immediate payment."
In plain English: Immediate means happening right now without any delay.
"The immediate neighbor came over to fix the fence."
Usage: Use "immediate" to describe something that happens without any delay or interruption, such as an immediate reaction or immediate action. Avoid using it to mean "direct" when referring to relationships or influence unless you specifically mean there are no intermediaries involved.
The word immediate comes from Old French and Late Latin, originally meaning "without anything in between." It entered English through this lineage to describe something happening directly without any intervening steps or moderation.