Immediately

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "immediately" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to show that something needs to occur without delay. Example sentence: We need to act immediately if we want to reach our goal on time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"East Coast is particularly sorry, too, for the inconvenience to its customers as a result on what we know is an already very busy travel day immediately following the Christmas break.

The Guardian - Business

"We closed the park immediately whilst preliminary investigations took place and to give our staff time to come to terms with the accident and its aftermath.

The Guardian

But not immediately.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The New York Times

When it was reported in November 2012 that Carr was keeping a diary of his time as foreign minister with the intent of publishing it – based on the accounts of numerous sources – Carr immediately issued a statement denying he was writing a book.

The Guardian

Shortly before the meeting the council issued a statement expressing "grave concern at the continued fighting in and around Debaltseve" and demanded that all parties to the conflict cease hostilities immediately.

The Guardian

It stopped, and was immediately followed by a voice remarking her own thoughts.

The Economist

We hit it off immediately.

The New York Times - Magazine

Stop whisking, then immediately and carefully pour the egg into the centre of the whirlpool.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Whoever fired at her hadn't been able to track her down with dogs and dispose of the tag because the shot had not immediately been fatal: Betty had flapped on for several miles before collapsing on the ground.

The Guardian

Because the money is a one-off and must be spent immediately, councils will use it largely to buy in extra services such as care agency support for people in their own homes and short-term places in residential homes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "immediately" to convey a sense of urgency or importance, indicating that an action should be taken without any delay. For example: "We must address this issue immediately to prevent further complications."

Common error

While "immediately" is versatile, avoid overusing it in formal or academic writing. Opt for more nuanced alternatives like "promptly" or "expeditiously" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "immediately" is as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate the timing of an action or state. It specifies that something happens without any delay. Ludwig AI confirms that "immediately" is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "immediately" functions as an adverb to denote actions occurring without delay. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across diverse written English contexts. Its frequency is very common, with primary usage in news, media, and business, signaling urgency and promptness. To maintain writing sophistication, consider alternatives like "promptly" in formal contexts. The analysis reveals its versatility and importance in clear communication. The high source quality and expert rating further validate its widespread acceptance and reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Instantly

Focuses on the instantaneous nature of the action.

Instantly

Focuses on the instantaneous nature of the action

Right away

Emphasizes promptness and lack of hesitation.

At once

Highlights the simultaneity of the action or event.

Without delay

Stresses the absence of any postponement.

Promptly

Indicates a swift and timely action.

Directly

Suggests a straight forward and quick action.

Forthwith

A more formal and somewhat archaic synonym for "immediately".

Swiftly

Emphasizes speed and quickness in carrying out the action.

In a flash

Implies something happened very quickly and unexpectedly.

FAQs

How to use "immediately" in a sentence?

Use "immediately" to indicate that something should happen without delay. For example, "Please submit your report immediately" or "The doctor arrived "at once"".

What can I say instead of "immediately"?

You can use alternatives like "instantly", "right away", or ""at once"" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "immediately" or "instantaneously"?

Both "immediately" and "instantaneously" are correct, but "immediately" is more common and versatile, while "instantaneously" emphasizes the instantaneous nature of the action.

What's the difference between "immediately" and "directly"?

"Immediately" implies no delay, while "directly" suggests a straight path or action without intermediaries. You might say, "Respond immediately" to stress urgency, or "Contact him directly" to specify who should be contacted.