almost immediately

USAGE SUMMARY

"almost immediately" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It typically implies something happening very soon after an event or situation. For example, "After she heard the news, she had to leave almost immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Almost immediately, you respawn.

The New Yorker

Almost immediately, McCabe spoke.

The New York Times - Sports

A Almost immediately.

The New York Times

Almost immediately after Pres.

The New Yorker

Almost immediately, he knew.

The New York Times

Sweating begins almost immediately.

Harvard University

But he recovered almost immediately.

The New Yorker

The disorientation began almost immediately.

The New York Times - Travel

The theater empties almost immediately.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Almost immediately, he dropped it.

The New York Times

She died almost immediately.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost immediately", ensure that the context clearly establishes the initial event or situation to which the immediacy refers. This prevents ambiguity and ensures the reader understands the sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "almost immediately" when a noticeable delay actually occurred. While it doesn't mean instantaneously, it does suggest a very short timeframe. Using it when the action took several minutes or hours can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost immediately" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to indicate the timing of an action. It specifies that an action occurred very soon after a preceding event or time, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Academia

8%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost immediately" functions as an adverbial phrase that indicates something happens very soon after a specific event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous real-world examples from news, academic, and general sources. While interchangeable with similar phrases like "very shortly after" or "almost instantaneously", it is important to use it accurately, ensuring that the context reflects a truly short delay. Its versatile register makes it appropriate for use across various writing styles, though close attention to context is always recommended for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost instantaneously

Highlights the near-instantaneous nature of the subsequent event.

directly after

Indicates that the action occurred in the moment right after.

on the instant

Implies a very immediate and direct response.

very shortly after

Emphasizes the brief duration between the initial event and the subsequent action.

without delay

Highlights the absence of any waiting period before the action.

right away

Emphasizes the lack of delay and the promptness of the action.

in rapid succession

Stresses that multiple events or actions happened quickly one after another.

pretty soon after

Suggests a slightly less immediate timeframe compared to "almost immediately".

in short order

Implies a quick sequence of events, with the second following soon after the first.

close on the heels of

Figuratively describes the second event as closely following the first, like someone trailing behind.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost immediately" to indicate that something happened very soon after something else. For example, "The play started, and "almost immediately", the lead actress forgot her lines."

What is a synonym for "almost immediately"?

Alternatives for "almost immediately" include phrases like "very shortly after", "almost instantaneously", or "directly after".

Is it redundant to say "almost immediately immediately"?

Yes, saying "almost immediately immediately" is redundant. The word "immediately" already implies that something happens without delay; adding "almost immediately" before it doesn't add any new information and can sound awkward.

What is the difference between "immediately" and "almost immediately"?

"Immediately" means without any delay, whereas "almost immediately" suggests a very short delay. For example, "The ambulance arrived immediately" implies it was there as fast as possible, while "The ambulance arrived "almost immediately"" acknowledges a slight but negligible waiting time.