immediately
/ɪˈmiːdiətli/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈmiːdiətli/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈmē-dē-ət-lē also -ˈmē-dit- British often -ˈmē-jit-/ (ame, mw) · /ɪˈmiː.di.ət.li/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈmiː.di.ət.li/ (ame, ipa)
immediately — adverb
1. In a very short amount of time, with no waiting between the current moment and w
In a very short amount of time, with no waiting between the current moment and when something happens.
As soon as Adina heard the fire alarm, she left the building immediately.
immediately at end of clause after a comma
If you feel any pain during the exercise, stop immediately and rest.
imperative + immediately
The doctor came immediately after Joshua called the clinic about his fever.
Immediately, everyone in the room stopped talking and turned to look at the door.
- at once
slightly more formal; common in British English
- instantly
emphasises that something happens in the exact same moment, with even less time than immediately
- right away
informal; very common in spoken English
- directly
British English; used informally to mean 'very soon' rather than 'at this exact moment'
- later
at a time in the future; opposite of 'without delay'
- eventually
after a long time or after some delay
文法句型
immediately [after verb]
[Imperative verb] + immediately
用法筆記
Common with imperative verbs such as stop, leave, call, and tell. Can be placed at the end of a clause ('I called him immediately') or at the start of a sentence followed by a comma ('Immediately, I called him') for stronger emphasis.
常見錯誤
2. In a position very near something or someone, with little or no space between th
In a position very near something or someone, with little or no space between them; or happening very soon before or after a particular time or event.
The hotel is immediately next to the train station, so you can walk there in two minutes.
immediately next to [location]
The years immediately after the earthquake were the hardest for the community.
immediately after [time period]
Tariro lives on the floor immediately above the bakery, so the smell of fresh bread wakes her every morning.
The kitchen is immediately behind the living room, separated only by a small counter.
- far
at a great distance; the opposite of close proximity
- long after
with a significant time gap
- long before
with a significant time gap
文法句型
immediately + preposition + noun phrase
用法筆記
Subject is usually a place, building, or time period. Frequently paired with the prepositions after, before, above, below, behind, next to, and opposite to indicate close proximity with nothing in between.
常見錯誤
3. In a way that involves a direct link or close relationship, with no other person
In a way that involves a direct link or close relationship, with no other person, thing, or step coming between two things.
The reason for the machine's failure was not immediately apparent to the engineers.
immediately apparent
Anyone whose work is immediately connected to patient safety must attend the training.
immediately connected to
The two political issues are immediately related, so the committee decided to discuss them together.
The team leader is the person immediately responsible for approving all project expenses.
- indirectly
through an intermediate step or person
- remotely
in a distant or unrelated way
文法句型
immediately + adjective (apparent/clear/obvious)
immediately + past participle (connected/related/affected)
用法筆記
Commonly modifies adjectives such as apparent, clear, obvious, responsible, connected, related, and affected. Typically used in formal, professional, or academic writing rather than in casual conversation.
常見錯誤
immediately — conjunction
1. At the exact moment that something happens; used to show that one action happens
At the exact moment that something happens; used to show that one action happens with almost no time between it and another event.
Immediately she saw her brother at the airport, she dropped her bag and ran to hug him.
Immediately + subject + verb (past tense)
Immediately the rain stopped, the children ran outside to play in the puddles.
Caio called his grandmother immediately he arrived at the hotel, just as he had promised.
Immediately the teacher entered the room, the students stopped talking and opened their books.
- as soon as
the most common equivalent; slightly more explicit about the sequence
- the moment (that)
emphasises that both events happen at the same instant
- when
more general; does not emphasise the lack of delay
文法句型
Immediately + [subject] + [verb], [main clause]
[Main clause] immediately + [subject] + [verb]
用法筆記
Functions as a subordinating conjunction connecting two events that happen at nearly the same time. When immediately begins the sentence, a comma follows the time clause. When immediately appears in the middle of the sentence, no comma is needed.