immediately

UK: /ɪˈmiːdiətli/ US: /ɪˈmidiɪtli/ ,(i mē′dē it lē)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•me•di•ate•ly /ɪˈmidiɪtli/   adv. 

1. instantly;
   at once:
   Please telephone him immediately.
2. with no object or space in between:
   The mayor sat immediately to my left.
See -medi-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•me•di•ate•ly  (i mē′dē it lē), adv. 

1. without lapse of time;
   without delay;
   instantly;
   at once:
   Please telephone him immediately.
2. with no object or space intervening.
3. closely:
   immediately in the vicinity.
4. without intervening medium or agent;
   concerning or affecting directly.

conj. 

5. [Chiefly Brit.] the moment that;
   as soon as.

• 1375–1425; late Middle English; see immediate, -ly

Synonyms

• 1. instantaneously, forthwith.
  Immediately, instantly, directly, presently were once close synonyms, all denoting complete absence of delay or any lapse of time.
  Immediately and instantly still almost always have that sense and usually mean at once:
  He got up immediately. She responded instantly to the request.
  Directly is usually equivalent to soon, in a little while rather than at once:
  You go ahead, we'll join you directly.
  Presently changes sense according to the tense of the verb with which it is used. With a present tense verb it usually means now, at the present time:
  The author presently lives in San Francisco. She is presently working on a new novel.
  In some contexts, especially those involving a contrast between the present and the near future,
  presently can mean soon or in a little while:
  She is at the office now but will be home presently.

Antonyms

• 1. later.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

immediately / ɪˈmiːdɪətlɪ/ adverb

1. without delay or intervention; at once; instantly
2. very closely or directly: this immediately concerns you
3. near or close by: he's somewhere immediately in this area

conjunction

1. (subordinating) at the same time as; as soon as: immediately he opened the door, there was a gust of wind