imminent en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈɪmənənt/ weak vowel merger
- /ˈɪmɪnənt/ weak vowel distinction
- [ˈɪmɪnənt] weak vowel distinction
- [ˈɪmənənt] weak vowel merger
- (UK) audio
Etymology
From the present participle of Latin imminēre (“to overhang”), from mineō ("to project, overhang"), related to minae (English menace) and mons (English mount). Compare with eminent.
Meanings
-
About to happen, occur, or take place very soon, especially of something which won't last long.
To courageous, self-reliant men, with confidence in the power of free and fearless reasoning applied through the processes of popular government, no danger flowing from speech can be deemed clear and present unless the incidence of the evil apprehended is so imminent that it may befall before there is opportunity for full discussion.
1927, Whitney v. California:The Second World War was reaching fever pitch, with the entire Allied effort in top gear for the imminent invasion of Europe, while later that month buzz bombs would start falling on London.
2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 42:“Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
2026 March 17, Julian E. Barnes, Robert Draper, Luke Broadwater, quoting Joe Kent, “Joe Kent, a Top Counterterrorism Official for the Trump Administration, Resigns, Citing Iran War”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most imminent | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more imminent | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Deriveds
imminently · imminentness · imminence · imminent abortion
Relateds
Synonyms
forthcoming · pending · to come · on the boil · proximate · impending · imminent · immediate · upcoming · impending · instant · at hand · in the offing · toward · inevitable · around the corner · impendent · in the wind
Translations (48)
el επικείμενος (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · ko 절박한 (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · ru предстоя́щий (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · pl bliski (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · pdt dreiwent (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · ru надвига́ющийся (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · be неміну́чы (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · pt iminente (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · es inminente (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · cs bezprostřední (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · ar وَشِيك (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · be надыхо́дзячы (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · de bevorstehend (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · lv gaidāms (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · fi tuleva (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · nb overhengende (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · sh neizbježno (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · nb nært forestående (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · cmn 即將來臨 /即将来临 (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · lv draudošs (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · nb umiddelbart forestående (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · ru неизбе́жный (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · ro iminent (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · ru немину́емый (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · lv nenovēršams (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · fa قریبالوقوع (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · ko 절박하다 (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · nl imminent (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · mi raraka (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · sh iminentno (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · it imminente (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · sv överhängande (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · gl inminente (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · sa भविष्य (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · fr imminent (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · bg немину́ем (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · ca imminent (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · sh neposredno (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · be неадхі́льны (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · sh neminovno (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · nl dreigend (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · uk немину́чий (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · bg предстоя́щ (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · sh prestojeće (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · sv nära förestående (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · io minac-anta (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · be няўхі́льны (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon) · pl nadciągający (about to happen, occur, or take place very soon)