imminent action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "imminent action" is correct and usable in written English.
It typically refers to an action that is about to take place or is likely to take place very soon. For example, "The Prime Minister has warned of the imminent action the government will be taking to combat the rising crime rate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Under political pressure, and apparently seeking to avoid a violent confrontation between security forces and settlers, Mr. Netanyahu sought a way to hold off imminent action.

The New York Times

Stone has said in recent emails to supporters that he expects to face imminent action from Mueller and may be indicted.

The Guardian

as analysts at Shore Capital poured cold water on the idea of any imminent action, and moved their recommendation from hold to sell.

The Guardian - Business

Both calls to Tillerson, the official says, warned that Trump was about to take imminent action if he did not step aside.

The New Yorker

Allaying fears of any imminent action, Mr. Netanyahu told the commercial Channel Two that stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability was "not a matter of days or weeks".

The New York Times

But the official made these points: While Mr. Bush will make the case for a more aggressive pursuit of Al Qaeda, the White House does not anticipate imminent action in Somalia.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

The statute, however, speaks solely in terms of Proposed actions; it does not require an agency to consider the possible environmental impacts of less imminent actions when preparing the impact statement on proposed actions.

Cornell University

I could plan imminent actions alongside the other players, I could crack jokes as I lay dying in a fire trap, and I could roleplay in conjunction with the human beings in the game with me.

Vice

The dorsolateral PFC is particularly important in working memory (Petrides 2000), mental preparation for imminent actions (Pochon et al. 2001), and procedural learning (Pascual-Leone et al. 1996) and its functional alteration is involved in major psychoses (Weinberger et al. 1986, 1988; Dolan et al. 1993).

Brain Structure and Function

This was translated in 1970 into a legal test that demands criminal speech 1) be directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action" and 2) be "likely to produce such action". (Brandenburg v. Ohio, 1970).

HuffPost

As the Supreme Court held in Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), the government may forbid "incitement"—speech "directed at inciting or producing imminent lawless action" and "likely to incite or produce such action".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "imminent action" when you want to convey a sense of urgency or that something is about to happen very soon. It's often used in formal contexts or when discussing important decisions or events.

Common error

Avoid confusing "imminent", which means about to happen, with "eminent", which means famous or respected. For example, say "The storm's arrival is imminent" not "The storm's arrival is eminent".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "imminent action" functions as a noun phrase, where "imminent" modifies the noun "action". According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "imminent action" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term, particularly in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. Ludwig confirms its correctness and prevalence, indicating that it effectively conveys a sense of urgency or impending activity. To avoid confusion, remember that "imminent" (about to happen) is different from "eminent" (famous). Alternative phrases like "impending action" or "approaching action" can be used to express similar meanings. When incorporating "imminent action" into your writing, ensure it aligns with the context's formality and effectively communicates the anticipation of an event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impending action

Replaces "imminent" with "impending", suggesting something is about to occur.

approaching action

Substitutes "imminent" with "approaching", indicating an action drawing near.

forthcoming action

Uses "forthcoming" instead of "imminent", denoting something that is about to happen or be revealed.

immediate response

Focuses on the speed of the response, similar to the urgency implied by "imminent".

prompt intervention

Highlights the timeliness of the intervention, akin to "imminent action".

pending measure

Indicates that a measure is waiting to be taken, similar to the anticipation of "imminent action".

looming intervention

Similar to impending, indicates a sense of something about to occur, often with a negative connotation.

oncoming response

Emphasizes that a response is in transit or about to happen.

quick action

Highlights the speediness of the action, comparable to the urgency implied by "imminent".

close at hand action

Rephrases to highlight that the action is nearby in time.

FAQs

How can I use "imminent action" in a sentence?

You can use "imminent action" to describe something about to happen, such as "The general warned of "imminent action" if the border violations continued".

What phrases are similar to "imminent action"?

Similar phrases include "impending action", "approaching action", or "forthcoming action", all indicating something is about to occur.

Is "imminent action" formal or informal?

"Imminent action" is generally considered a more formal phrase, suitable for news reports, official statements, and professional communications.

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

"Imminent action" suggests something is about to happen, while "immediate action" indicates taking steps without delay.