immediately

[ ih-mee-dee-it-lee ]
/ ɪˈmi di ɪt li /

adverb

without lapse of time; without delay; instantly; at once: Please telephone him immediately.
with no object or space intervening.
closely: immediately in the vicinity.
without intervening medium or agent; concerning or affecting directly.

conjunction

Chiefly British. the moment that; as soon as.

Origin of immediately

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at immediate, -ly

SYNONYMS FOR immediately

1 instantaneously, forthwith. Immediately, instantly, directly, presently were once close synonyms, all denoting complete absence of delay or any lapse of time. Immediately and instantly still almost always have that sense and usually mean at once: He got up immediately. She responded instantly to the request. Directly is usually equivalent to soon, in a little while rather than at once: You go ahead, we'll join you directly. Presently changes sense according to the tense of the verb with which it is used. With a present tense verb it usually means now, at the present time: The author presently lives in San Francisco. She is presently working on a new novel. In some contexts, especially those involving a contrast between the present and the near future, presently can mean soon or in a little while: She is at the office now but will be home presently.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH immediately

currently immediately momentarily now presently soon (see synonym study at the current entry) (see usage note at presently)

Example sentences from the Web for immediately

British Dictionary definitions for immediately

immediately
/ (ɪˈmiːdɪətlɪ) /

adverb

without delay or intervention; at once; instantly it happened immediately
very closely or directly this immediately concerns you
near or close by he's somewhere immediately in this area

conjunction

(subordinating) mainly British at the same time as; as soon as immediately he opened the door, there was a gust of wind