immediately1 adverbimmediately2 conjunction
immediatelyim‧me‧di‧ate‧ly1 /ɪˈmiːdiətli/ ●●● S2 W1 adverb 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I went home immediately after I heard the news.
- If your baby has a fever you should call the doctor immediately.
- Knowing the case was urgent, I replied to her lawyer's email immediately.
- Our house is immediately across from the post office.
- The Steelers will immediately begin the search for a new head coach.
- When mother saw my face, she knew immediately that something was wrong.
- A rare albino alligator arrived at the Wild Animal Park yesterday and immediately went into hiding.
- After his lunchtime lecture from a furious Mr Major, he agreed a joint statement calling for talks to re-start immediately.
- He said he has also been unable to locate Seber since he talked to him immediately after the fire.
- Hundreds of people left immediately, especially from the combined group's senior ranks.
- If the letting agent is not managing the flat, the tenant's deposit should be given to the owner immediately.
- In terms of programming, sports immediately comes to mind.
- It was not immediately determined if the two victims were related.
- Over half a million people have watched the first two Tests and two things are immediately obvious.
THESAURUS
very soon after something else happens, and without any delay: · Sam immediately offered to help.
immediately – used especially for emphasis: · Remove the pie from the oven and serve at once.· He came home at once when he heard his wife was ill.
(also straightaway British English) especially spoken immediately, especially because something is urgent. Right away and straightaway are less formal than immediately, and are very common in everyday spoken English: · If this happens, let us know right away.· I apologized straightaway.
if something happens instantly, it happens immediately after something else, with almost no time between: · The boy was killed instantly.· The message is sent instantly from your computer.
spoken if someone orders you to do something right now, they want you to do it immediately, especially because they are annoyed with you: · The head teacher wants to see you right now.
immediately, because it is important that you do something as soon as possible: · If you lose your passport, you should contact the embassy without delay.
Longman Language Activatorimmediately quickly and without any delay: · If your baby has a fever you should call the doctor immediately.· When mother saw my face, she knew immediately that something was wrong.· Knowing the case was urgent, I replied to her lawyer's email immediately.
also straight away British if you do something at once , right away , or straightaway , you do it immediately, especially because it is urgent: · The principal wants to see you at once.· We're in love and we want to get married right away.· You said it was important so I came straight away.
spoken if someone in authority orders you to do something this minute or right now , they want you to do it immediately, and they are usually annoyed with you: · Katie, put that down this minute, or you'll go straight to bed.· Tell Mick that I want to see him in my office, right now.
formal if you do something without delay , you do it immediately and without wasting any time, especially because it is important to do it as soon as possible: · If you lose your passport, you should contact the embassy without delay.· The crew and passengers were keen to get airborne without further delay.
immediately after something else happens · We met at a friend's party, and immediately became friends.· There was a loud explosion in the engine-room, and almost immediately a fire broke out.· I'll call you immediately we hear any news about the baby.immediately after/afterwards · We'll have to leave immediately after the meeting.· Mrs Smith was admitted to hospital at 10 o'clock, but died immediately afterwards.
immediately after something has happened or immediately after you have done something: · As soon as Stephen felt well again, he returned to work.· I will pay you back, I promise, the moment I get paid.· Honey, I swear, I'll phone you the moment I get to New York.
immediately after something has happened or someone has done something - use this especially in stories or in descriptions of events: no sooner had...than: · No sooner had they sat down to eat than the phone rang.· No sooner had he arrived in the city than his wallet was stolen.no sooner was/were...than: · No sooner were the words out of her mouth than she regretted them.
also hardly had immediately after an event or action has finished - use this especially in stories or in descriptions of events: · I'd done food shopping and had barely gotten to the door, when Debbie asked if I'd been listening to the radio.· Hardly had the film reached our screens last July than it was plagued by troubles and controversy.
to do something immediately, as soon as you have the chance to do it: lose no time in doing something: · When the new manager was appointed, he lost no time in reorganizing the office.· Murdock lost no time in setting out for London to find work.
at almost the same time that something else happens, and happening as a direct result of it: · Sea snakes inject a poison so strong that it kills a fish instantly.· It was a head-on crash and both drivers died instantly.
written if someone is killed outright , they die immediately from an attack or an accident: · He was killed outright when his car crashed at high speed.
when you do something immediately if you know something at a glance , you only need to look quickly in order to know immediately what is happening, how someone feels etc: can see/tell (something) at a glance: · I could see at a glance that the situation was serious.· An expert can tell at a glance whether it's a real diamond or a fake.
if you do something on the spot , you do it immediately, without taking time to think about the situation, without waiting for official permission etc: · I was so angry I almost resigned on the spot.· The police can fine motorists on the spot for driving offences.· Look, I can't give you a decision on the spot. I'll have to talk to my boss first.
if you do something or decide something there and then or then and there , you do it immediately and without stopping to think or delaying your decision until a later time: · When Kate knew John was seeing someone else, she should have left him then and there.· This time I'd gone too far, and I quit drinking there and then.
informal if you answer a question or provide information off the top of your head , you do it immediately, using information you already know, and without thinking about it or trying to find out more about it: · "How old is Chris?" "I don't know off the top of my head."· There are some good restaurants around here, but I can't tell you their names off the top of my head.
American informal if you do or say something right off or right off the bat , you do it or say it immediately, without taking time to think about it: · I couldn't think of a reply right off.· We let them know right off the bat that we weren't going with them.
happening or needing to be done immediately · My immediate reaction was shock and horror.· This letter requires your immediate attention.· The immediate needs of the refugees are for warm clothing and clean drinking water.· One immediate worry is money.
happening immediately, without any delay or doubt: · The workers are being threatened with instant dismissal.take an instant dislike to somebody : · He took an instant dislike to LeRoy.
very nearly at the same time as something else happens, and often as a result of it: · Death from a massive heart attack was almost instantaneous.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
He retired immediately after the end of the war. I can’t remember what happened immediately before the crash.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The difference in quality was immediately apparent.
He retired immediately after the end of the war. I can’t remember what happened immediately before the crash. The difference in quality was immediately apparent.· He expected his orders to be obeyed instantly.
· The cause of the pain was not immediately obvious.
· ‘No,’ she blurted out, instantly regretting her response.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· This is a transactional exemption and its scope is not immediately apparent.· To me it was immediately apparent, a tautology, a verbal redundancy.· The reason for this difficulty is immediately apparent.· On the other hand, no new direction was immediately apparent.· Consult the 1:25000 O.S. map of the area and the reason is immediately apparent.· As soon as he entered the hall, it was immediately apparent that there was a change.· The parallels with painting are immediately apparent.· Suggested steps in the planning are as follows, and it will be immediately apparent that they take time: 1.
· Because of their workload, they may not be immediately available but they all have telephone answering machines and will return all calls.· Revisions to economic growth statistics for prior periods were not immediately available.· His successor was Suetonius Paullinus, the best general immediately available.· Big East officials were not immediately available to comment....· Amnesty International was not immediately available for comment.· Neither Loral nor Lockheed Martin officials were immediately available for comment.· Details of the agreement were not immediately available.· Totals were not immediately available on the number of students who pass through the program.
· The implications of this remark were not immediately obvious.· Once a site is put back into production, it may not be immediately obvious that the archaeological sites have been destroyed.· This detail would have been immediately obvious had the slipper been made of glass.· Over half a million people have watched the first two Tests and two things are immediately obvious.· As is immediately obvious, a psychotherapy based on this approach is quite different from one based on the older questions.· Why is not immediately obvious but sufficiently worrying to put a black mark against the program.· Any difference in taste is immediately obvious.
VERB· The reasoning behind the unpopular and disastrous resignation immediately became the subject of intense speculation.· The two of them immediately became fast friends.· If a newspaper commissioned a political poll based on the opinion of a single person it would immediately become a laughing-stock.· Who immediately became so righteously pissed that one of them quit and the other demanded a raise.· Hailed as a great technological invention it immediately became the subject of debates concerning its aesthetic status and social uses.· If you decide to balance the budget, the question immediately becomes, at whose expense?· C.T. had no part in these negotiations and did not immediately become aware of their outcome.· A professor of philosophy immediately became my intellectual father.
· The Tans immediately began to prance around him, laughing and howling.· But Adams remains adamant, saying all-party talks should begin immediately.· Porting begins immediately for the Solaris 2.0 environment.· It was such an important breakthrough, however, that other states immediately began to look into it.· Rationing of these shipments and others around the country began immediately.· A Troll stepped unwittingly into a steaming puddle and immediately began to dissolve.· They said babies at risk should be tested as early as possible so that treatment can begin immediately.
· The gala opening by Brian Blessed in 1999 was followed immediately by the start of work on a new student refectory.· This was immediately followed by similar declarations or silent acquiescence by other nations.· They were immediately followed by a stunned silence.· Science follows immediately, and the students quickly gather in groups to work on their exhibition in this area.· This praise may be immediately followed by the giving of some other reward from the menu.· Riker and Gotler immediately followed them down to the road and picked them up.· But rhetorical questions can be over-used, especially where answers to the questions do not follow immediately.· As a result, they are likely to experience intense loneliness during the period immediately following the birth.
· Hundreds of people left immediately, especially from the combined group's senior ranks.· I had to fight the logical reaction to leave immediately.· I could still catch the early train if I left immediately.· After three hours of drinking and lounging, highlighted by a few minutes of debate, we decide unanimously to leave immediately.· He had no intention of leaving immediately.· At one point they arrested 240 protesters for sitting in a city square then immediately left.· He left immediately for the airport, and chartered a jet.· You must leave immediately, or I shall write to Madame Cannabich.
· The events that immediately precede a strike are more accurately defined as the factors which serve to precipitate the ensuing conflict.· Adjustments are considered in the light of experience of the immediately preceding cycle.
· She returns immediately and drops in a replacement of her own.· Score sheets must be returned immediately after game.· Calls to the teacher's home were not immediately returned on Wednesday.· The Marian Watson will return immediately.· He could go ashore to go to the lavatory, but had to return immediately to the raft.· He decided to return immediately to London and to visit his doctor.· All items of equipment remain the property of the Company and must be returned immediately on request.
· Scatter the rest of the Parmesan all over and serve immediately.· Drizzle reduced pan juices over and serve immediately.· Pour the Quorn mixture over the cooked rice and serve immediately.· Pour sauce over and serve immediately.· Sprinkle with pine kernels and serve immediately.· Serve immediately, spooning sauce over scaloppine.· Serve immediately straight from the soufflé dish.· Reheat, pour over duck legs, and serve immediately.
· A study by military experts was immediately set in motion.· As evidence of good faith, the machinery of evacuation was immediately set in motion.· Two anglers from London arrived at the draw but immediately set off for home again fearful of travelling conditions.· Joe immediately set about cultivating contacts in Chongqing.· It's all over for another year except that Keith Ward and I must immediately set about seeking next year's sponsor.· He set immediately to work cutting and eating the chop, drawing the blood away from his brain.· Our hosts promised we would be given an early final decision, so we immediately set about pre-planning a programme.· He immediately set out to make Clear Vue a national brand.
· A ubiquitous process that starts immediately after death is of course decay, which in small mammals progresses very quickly.· Computer manufacturers immediately started offering slick, new machines built around them.· I immediately started giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage.· Robbie was fascinated with the card, grabbed it, and immediately started studying it.· It may well take at least the lifetime of a Parliament to put things right, but Labour will start immediately.· Construction is to start immediately and is scheduled for completion in October 1998.· Most of the train's passengers, including Filmer and Daffodil, immediately started across the tracks to reboard.· Whenever the global economy is doing well, car makers immediately start work on a range of cars for the plutocrats.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1without delay SYN at once: - As is immediately obvious, a psychotherapy based on this approach is quite different from one based on the older questions.
- It may be obvious that the postholes represent structures, but little else may be immediately apparent.
- On the other hand, no new direction was immediately apparent.
- Once a site is put back into production, it may not be immediately obvious that the archaeological sites have been destroyed.
- Over half a million people have watched the first two Tests and two things are immediately obvious.
- The distinction between primary and secondary sources will not always be immediately obvious to the pupil.
- The reason for this difficulty is immediately apparent.
- Civil society is constituted by the social relationships and processes outside paid employment and not immediately affected by the state.
- Henry's memory, of course, seemed only defective in matters that immediately concerned him.
- No one is more anxious that the penalties should be apt for the crime than those most immediately affected by prison disorder.
- The availability of land played a crucial part in relations between the landowning class and those immediately concerned with its cultivation.
- The hearing is technically in public, though it is very rare for anyone other than those immediately involved to be present.
- The problem is to convince those who are not so immediately affected.
- Those most immediately affected given support.
- We are not immediately concerned whether they are based on off-line, optical discs or on online technology by way of broadband networks.
Mix in the remaining ingredients and serve immediately. The telephone rang, and he answered it immediately.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say right away or, in British English, straight away rather than immediately:· Yes, I’ll do it right away.2very soon before or after somethingimmediately after/following something He retired immediately after the end of the war.immediately before/preceding something I can’t remember what happened immediately before the crash.3immediately obvious/apparent able to be seen or understood very easily: The solution to this problem is not immediately obvious.4[+adjective/adverb] very near to somethingimmediately behind/above/below/in front of etc something the seat immediately behind the driver5immediately involved/affected/concerned etc very closely involved etc in a particular situation: Those most immediately involved in the disaster will be given support.THESAURUSimmediately very soon after something else happens, and without any delay: · Sam immediately offered to help.at once immediately – used especially for emphasis: · Remove the pie from the oven and serve at once.· He came home at once when he heard his wife was ill.right away (also straightaway British English) especially spoken immediately, especially because something is urgent. Right away and straightaway are less formal than immediately, and are very common in everyday spoken English: · If this happens, let us know right away.· I apologized straightaway.instantly if something happens instantly, it happens immediately after something else, with almost no time between: · The boy was killed instantly.· The message is sent instantly from your computer.right now/this minute spoken if someone orders you to do something right now, they want you to do it immediately, especially because they are annoyed with you: · The head teacher wants to see you right now.without delay immediately, because it is important that you do something as soon as possible: · If you lose your passport, you should contact the embassy without delay.immediately1 adverbimmediately2 conjunction
immediatelyimmediately2 conjunction British English formal COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The difference in quality was immediately apparent.
as soon as: The difference in quality was immediately apparent.· He expected his orders to be obeyed instantly.
· The cause of the pain was not immediately obvious.
· ‘No,’ she blurted out, instantly regretting her response.
Immediately you begin to speak, he gives you his full attention.