Almost immediately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Almost immediately" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or event that occurs very shortly after another event. Example: "The lights went out, and almost immediately, the backup generator kicked in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost immediately, you respawn.

The New Yorker

Almost immediately, McCabe spoke.

The New York Times - Sports

Almost immediately after Pres.

The New Yorker

Almost immediately, he knew.

The New York Times

Almost immediately, Shannan stopped ditching.

The New Yorker

Almost immediately, he dropped it.

The New York Times

Almost immediately, specific restrictions kicked in.

The New York Times - Arts

Almost immediately, filmmakers pulled out of Michigan.

The New York Times

Almost immediately, she began to make trouble.

Independent

Almost immediately, Kashua regretted writing the book.

The New Yorker

Almost immediately.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost immediately" to emphasize the rapid sequence of events. It adds a sense of urgency or direct consequence.

Common error

While acceptable, avoid overusing "almost immediately" in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more precise language depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost immediately" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action. As shown by Ludwig, it specifies that an event occurred very shortly after another. The adverb "almost" softens the immediacy, suggesting it was not quite instantaneous.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost immediately" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to describe events that occur very shortly after one another. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in news and media. While suitable for many contexts, more formal alternatives exist for academic or scientific writing. The phrase effectively conveys urgency and proximity, adding emphasis to the sequence of events. By understanding its nuances and considering context, writers can effectively use "almost immediately" to enhance their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Nearly instantaneously

Emphasizes the speed and near-perfect synchronization of the events.

Practically at once

Highlights the lack of delay, suggesting the second action occurred very shortly after the first.

Virtually right away

Conveys a sense of speed and lack of delay between actions.

Almost instantly

Focuses on the immediate reaction with minimal delay.

Very shortly thereafter

Highlights temporal proximity, indicating the event happened soon after.

In short order

Implies the action happens quickly and efficiently.

On the heels of

Metaphorically places the second event directly after the first, creating a feeling of close succession.

Hardly had X when Y

Uses a more complex grammatical structure to express the almost simultaneous nature of two events.

Quickly following

Directly states the rapid sequence of events.

Expeditiously thereafter

Highlights the speed and efficiency with which the action followed the initial event.

FAQs

How can I use "almost immediately" in a sentence?

"Almost immediately" is used to indicate that something happens very soon after something else. For example, "The alarm sounded, and "almost immediately", the building was evacuated."

What's a more formal alternative to "almost immediately"?

More formal alternatives include "shortly thereafter" or "expeditiously thereafter". Consider the context to determine the most appropriate substitution.

Is there a difference between "almost immediately" and "immediately"?

"Immediately" implies that something happens without any delay at all, whereas "almost immediately" suggests a very slight delay. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What can I say instead of "almost immediately" if I want to emphasize speed?

If you want to emphasize speed, you could use phrases like "nearly instantaneously", "practically at once", or "almost instantly".