not immediately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not immediately" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something will not happen right away or without delay. Example: "I cannot respond to your request not immediately, but I will get back to you as soon as I can."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Not immediately.

The New York Times

Perhaps not immediately.

The Economist

Not immediately, perhaps.

The New York Times - Tech

But not immediately.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Not immediately, it seems.

The Guardian - Money

Well, certainly not immediately.

The New York Times

Not immediately, anyway.

The Economist

Not immediately obvious?

The Guardian

Well, maybe not immediately.

The New York Times

"Not immediately," he said.

The New York Times

Well, not immediately.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When responding to inquiries, "not immediately" softens the denial, implying potential future action rather than outright refusal.

Common error

While "not immediately" is widely acceptable, overuse in formal documents or academic writing can make your writing sound less precise. Consider more specific alternatives like "at a later date" or "after further review" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not immediately" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause to indicate that an action or event will not occur instantly. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and correct way to express a delay.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not immediately" is a versatile adverbial phrase that correctly indicates a delay or lack of instantaneity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used, particularly in news and media. While suitable for many contexts, consider more formal alternatives in academic or very professional writing to maintain precision. Remember that overuse, even of acceptable phrases, can dilute your message. Overall, "not immediately" serves as a useful tool to temper expectations and imply potential future actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not right away

This alternative is a more informal and direct way of saying something will not happen at once.

not at once

This alternative is slightly more formal than "not right away" but conveys the same meaning of a lack of immediacy.

not in the near future

This alternative explicitly states that something will not occur soon.

not in the short term

This alternative focuses on the future and indicates that something will not happen soon.

in due time

This alternative suggests something will happen eventually, but not in the near future.

eventually, but not yet

This alternative emphasizes that something will happen later, but it is not the right time.

down the line

A more casual way of saying something will happen later, but not now.

subsequently, but not now

This alternative is more formal and specifies that something will follow later.

after a while

This indicates something will happen following a period of time.

in the fullness of time

A more poetic way to say that something will happen when the time is right, suggesting patience.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "not immediately"?

You can use alternatives like "not right away", "not at once", or "not in the short term" depending on the context.

How do I use "not immediately" in a sentence?

The phrase "not immediately" is typically used to indicate that an action or event will not occur instantly or without delay. For example: "The problem will not be resolved immediately" or "The effects of the new policy will not be apparent immediately".

Is it correct to say "not immediately" or should I use "not immediate"?

"Not immediate" is grammatically incorrect in most contexts. The correct phrase is "not immediately", where 'immediately' is an adverb modifying a verb or adjective to indicate timing.

What's the difference between "not immediately" and "not directly"?

"Not immediately" refers to timing, indicating something will happen later. "Not directly" refers to the manner or method, suggesting an indirect approach. For example: "The issue will be addressed, but "not immediately"" versus "The question was answered, but "not directly"".