immediacy

/ɪˈmiːdiəsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈmiːdiəsi/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈmē-dē-ə-sē British often -ˈmē-jə-sē/ (ame, mw)

immediacy — noun

1. the quality of a performance, piece of writing, or situation that makes it feel

1.名詞B2
釋義

the quality of a performance, piece of writing, or situation that makes it feel very close, real, and directly involving you, as if it were happening in the present moment

例句

Viewers love the immediacy of live theatre, where every show feels unique and real.

The war footage had an immediacy that made Eva feel as if events were happening right outside.

immediacy + that-clause for describing effect

同義詞
  • directness

    focuses on lack of intermediaries rather than emotional involvement

  • vividness

    emphasises clarity and sharpness of detail more than presence

  • presence

    a simpler, more general word for feeling something is there

反義詞
  • remoteness

    suggests emotional or physical distance, the opposite of feeling close

用法筆記

Common with nouns like 'live', 'direct', and 'real-time', and verbs like 'capture', 'convey', and 'give'. Frequently contrasts a live or direct experience with a recorded or indirect one.

常見錯誤

❌The immediacy of the deadline made everyone panic.
✅The urgency of the deadline made everyone panic.
💡'Immediacy' here means feeling real/close, not requiring urgent action; use 'urgency' for time pressure.

2. how quickly something is done or happens, without any unnecessary waiting betwee

2.名詞B2
釋義

how quickly something is done or happens, without any unnecessary waiting between a request and its result

例句

The immediacy of email allows teams to share updates within seconds rather than days.

Diego appreciated the immediacy of instant messaging when he needed a quick answer from his boss.

collocation: appreciated the immediacy of

同義詞
  • speed

    broader and more common; works for physical movement and processes

  • promptness

    slightly more formal, often used for human responses

  • swiftness

    more literary; suggests smooth, fast action

反義詞
  • delay

    the opposite of acting without waiting

  • slowness

    contrasts with the idea of quickness

常見錯誤

❌The immediacy of the runner was impressive.
✅The speed of the runner was impressive.
💡'Immediacy' describes how fast a process responds to a trigger, not how fast a person or vehicle moves.