imminent
Use Imminent in a sentence
ə adjective
1.
likely to occur at any moment; impending: Her death is imminent.
2.
projecting or leaning forward; overhanging.
Origin:
1520–30; < Latin imminent- (stem of imminēns), present participle of imminēre to overhang, equivalent to im- im-1 + -min- from a base meaning “jut out, project, rise” (cf. eminent, mount2) + -ent- -ent
1520–30; < Latin imminent- (stem of imminēns), present participle of imminēre to overhang, equivalent to im- im-1 + -min- from a base meaning “jut out, project, rise” (cf. eminent, mount2) + -ent- -ent
Related forms
im·mi·nent·ly, adverb
im·mi·nent·ness, noun
un·im·mi·nent, adjective
Synonyms
1. near, at hand. Imminent, Impending, Threatening all may carry the implication of menace, misfortune, disaster, but they do so in differing degrees. Imminent may portend evil: an imminent catastrophe, but also may mean simply “about to happen”: The merger is imminent. Impending has a weaker sense of immediacy and threat than imminent : Real tax relief legislation is impending, but it too may be used in situations portending disaster: impending social upheaval; to dread the impending investigation. Threatening almost always suggests ominous warning and menace: a threatening sky just before the tornado struck.
1. near, at hand. Imminent, Impending, Threatening all may carry the implication of menace, misfortune, disaster, but they do so in differing degrees. Imminent may portend evil: an imminent catastrophe, but also may mean simply “about to happen”: The merger is imminent. Impending has a weaker sense of immediacy and threat than imminent : Real tax relief legislation is impending, but it too may be used in situations portending disaster: impending social upheaval; to dread the impending investigation. Threatening almost always suggests ominous warning and menace: a threatening sky just before the tornado struck.
Antonyms
1. distant, remote.
1. distant, remote.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To imminent
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Imminent
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is impending. Does it mean:
| the act of imprecating; cursing. |
| about to happen |
Collins
World English Dictionary
imminent (ˈɪmɪnənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | liable to happen soon; impending |
| 2. | obsolete jutting out or overhanging |
| [C16: from Latin imminēre to project over, from | |
| 'imminence | |
| —n | |
| 'imminentness | |
| —n | |
| 'imminently | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
imminent
1528, from L. imminentem (nom. imminens), prp. of imminere "to overhang, impend, be near," from in- "into" + minere "jut out," related to mons "hill" (see mount).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
It was understood that flies were a transmission vector for disease, and a public-health crisis seemed imminent.
Suddenly a recession in ad-spending seemed imminent.
Many farmers have a more imminent worry: outrunning disease.
Most commentators think the regime is in no imminent danger of collapse.
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