1. Occurring at once; instant: gave me an immediate response.
2. 1. Of or near the present time: in the immediate future.
   2. Of or relating to the present time and place; current: "It is probable that, apart from the most immediate, pragmatic, technical revisions, the writer's effort to detach himself from his work is quixotic" (Joyce Carol Oates).
3. Close at hand; near: in the immediate vicinity. See synonyms at close.
4. Next in line or relation: is an immediate successor to the president of the company.
5. Directly apprehended or perceived: had immediate awareness of the scope of the crisis.
6. Acting or occurring without the interposition of another agency or object; direct.

[Middle English immediat, from Old French, from Late Latin immediātus : Latin in-, not; see in-¹ + Latin mediātus, past participle of mediāre, to be in the middle; see mediate.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.