imminent

USAGE SUMMARY

"imminent" is a correctly written and usable word in English.
You can use it when something is about to happen very soon. For example: "The imminent arrival of the storm caused panic among the townspeople."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In a speech setting out the government package to deter so-called benefit tourism, Cameron will say EU migrants can only continue to claim jobseekers allowance if they have been continuously actively seeking work and have a realistic imminent prospect of finding a job.

The Guardian

Wistrich said: "The officers who shot Jean Charles have a defence if they had an honest belief that they were under imminent threat, even if they were mistaken and their mistake was wholly unreasonable".

The Guardian

Pressed on a statement by the rightwing interior minister, Angelino Alfano, about the imminent demise of Mare Nostrum, Foffi said that he received the prime minister's orders through the defence minister and reacting to Alfano's statement was "not the way that military men conduct their activities".

The Guardian

If it wins two imminent byelections caused by Tory defections (Clacton, and Rochester and Strood), it will go into the campaign on a roll and, probably, as the third biggest party in the polls.

The Guardian

There's no way of knowing if your patients are all going to stay stable, or if there is an imminent major disaster with all casualties needing immediate medical assessment and treatment – and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Guardian

Adario is also very worried about imminent changes in the laws in Brazil, which will once again relax the strictures against forest development.

The Guardian

Which is why the question of his imminent departure looms (the hope is he can develop over another season or two back in the OHL), and why his semi-torrid pace to start the season is promising.

The Guardian - Sport

If 2 gxf5 Black Black has developed the queen's bishop to a good square, opened the f-file for imminent use by the rooks and has the better pawn structure.

The Guardian - Sport

The Moscow talks come as Athens scrambles to deal with a credit crunch that has sparked feverish speculation of an imminent default.

The Guardian

Mohamed Salah is expected to move to the Italian club on loan, with Chelsea meeting his wages, though the bulk of the transfer fee for the Colombian will effectively be met by André Schürrle's imminent departure for Wolfsburg.

The Guardian - Sport

The Daily Telegraph has also reported this imminent development many times, and on Tuesday it informed its readers that the government would that day announce a new citizenship bill that included "controversial measures based on the UK model to also strip nationality from Australians who hold sole Australian citizenship, but only if they have legal access to citizenship of another country".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "imminent" when you want to convey a sense of urgency or immediacy regarding an event. For example, instead of saying 'the storm is coming soon', you can say 'the storm is imminent' to emphasize the urgency.

Common error

Avoid using "imminent" when you mean "eminent". "Imminent" means about to happen, while "eminent" means distinguished or respected. Using one in place of the other changes the meaning entirely.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "imminent" primarily functions as a pre-nominal modifier, describing a noun by specifying that it is about to occur or happen. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and wide applicability, shown across numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "imminent" is an adjective used to describe something that is about to happen very soon. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and frequently used term, particularly in news, formal business, and science contexts. When using "imminent", be mindful of its precise meaning—something about to occur—and avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like "eminent". Consider alternatives like "impending" or "approaching" to adjust the nuance of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impending

Focuses more on the sense of something threatening or about to happen.

about to happen

A more descriptive and less formal way of expressing the same idea.

approaching

Suggests a gradual nearing, rather than the suddenness of "imminent".

close at hand

Indicates something is near in time or space.

forthcoming

Indicates that something is going to happen or be produced soon.

in the offing

Means likely to happen or appear soon.

just around the corner

Indicates that something will happen very soon.

on the horizon

Implies that something is likely to happen in the future.

in the cards

Suggests something is likely or certain to happen, but without specifying a timeframe.

brewing

Indicates something is about to happen, frequently something negative.

FAQs

How do you use "imminent" in a sentence?

Use "imminent" to describe something that is about to happen or occur very soon. For example, "The "imminent threat" of the hurricane forced residents to evacuate".

What can I say instead of "imminent"?

You can use alternatives like "impending", "approaching", or "forthcoming" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "imminent danger" or "eminent danger"?

"Imminent danger" is correct. It means danger that is about to happen. "Eminent danger" is incorrect because "eminent" means distinguished or respected, which doesn't make sense in this context.

What's the difference between "imminent" and "immediate"?

"Imminent" suggests something is just about to happen. "Immediate" suggests something happens without delay. For example, you might face an "imminent" threat that requires an "immediate" response.