in the immediate

USAGE SUMMARY

This is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is happening now or soon. For example: "We need to come up with a solution in the immediate future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not in the immediate future.

The New York Times

No, not in the immediate future".

The New York Times

Martin was reported in the immediate aftermath.

The Guardian - Sport

In the immediate aftermath, details were scant.

The New Yorker

Rain is not in the immediate forecast.

The New York Times

2. Everyone in the immediate vicinity gasps.

The Guardian - Film

It seems unlikely in the immediate future.

The Guardian

In the immediate future, however, the economy remains red hot.

University of California, Berkeley

Not that they may need that in the immediate future.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hundreds were on duty in the immediate area.

The New York Times

It's hard to see this stopping in the immediate future.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the immediate" to specify actions, effects, or locations that are directly adjacent in time or space to a reference point. This provides clarity and precision in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "in the immediate" when you actually mean something is "important" or "critical". "Immediate" refers to temporal or spatial closeness, not significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the immediate" primarily functions as a prepositional modifier, adding specificity to nouns or noun phrases. It indicates a sense of closeness, whether in terms of time, location, or sequence, as supported by the examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the immediate" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to denote closeness in time, space, or consequence. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it's grammatically sound and widely used, as evidenced by its frequency across varied sources. While it's often employed in contexts such as "in the immediate future" or "in the immediate aftermath", careful attention should be paid not to confuse "immediate" with "important". As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase adheres to standard grammatical rules, is prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Academia, and is deemed suitable for neutral and formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the near future

Focuses specifically on time proximity.

in the short term

Emphasizes a limited duration.

in close proximity

Highlights spatial closeness.

in the vicinity

Similar to 'close proximity' but slightly broader.

in the aftermath

Focuses on the period following an event.

right after

Emphasizes a very short time interval.

directly following

More formal version of 'right after'.

at once

Implies instantaneous action or reaction.

instantaneously

Highlights the lack of delay.

forthwith

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying immediately.

FAQs

How can I use "in the immediate" in a sentence?

You can use "in the immediate" to describe the period directly after an event, like "in the immediate aftermath", or to refer to the near future, like "in the immediate future".

What are some alternatives to "in the immediate"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "in the near future", "in close proximity", or "right after".

Is it correct to say "in the immediate vicinity"?

Yes, "in the immediate vicinity" is a correct and commonly used phrase to describe something that is in the area closest to a particular location.

What's the difference between "in the immediate future" and "in the distant future"?

"In the immediate future" refers to something that will happen soon, while "in the distant future" refers to something that will happen far off in time.