ɪˈmiːdiət Action Adjective Bre Reaction/Response Ram Stores Information

• an immediate reaction/response
• to take immediate action
• ram stores information for immediate access.
• our immediate concern is to help the families of those who died.

immediate

1. happening or done without delay
• synonym instant
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/instant_1
• an immediate reaction/response
• to take immediate action
• RAM stores information for immediate access.
2. existing now and needing urgent attention
• Our immediate concern is to help the families of those who died.
• The effects of global warming, while not immediate, are potentially catastrophic.
• The hospital says she's out of immediate danger.
• The report focuses on some of the more immediate problems facing us.
3. next to or very close to a particular place or time
• in the immediate vicinity
• The prospects for the immediate future are good.
• in the immediate aftermath of the war
• The director is standing on her immediate right.
• my immediate predecessor in the job (= the person who had the job just before me)
4. nearest in relationship or rank
• The funeral was attended by her immediate family (= her parents, children, brothers and sisters) only.
• He is my immediate superior (= the person directly above me) in the company.
5. having a direct effect
• The immediate cause of death is unknown.
6. starting now; starting from…
• The government has cut interest rates with effect from the beginning of next month.

Extra Examples

• The painkillers brought almost immediate relief.
• Carrie’s immediate reaction to the news was to laugh in relief.
• Local police took immediate action when they received the bomb alert.
• The cream brings immediate relief to dry and rough skin.

Word Origin

• late Middle English (in the sense ‘nearest in space or order’): from Old French immediat, or from late Latin immediatus, from in- ‘not’ + mediatus ‘intervening’, past participle of mediare, from Latin medius ‘middle’.