Explanation at your level:
Imminent means 'soon.' If a bus is coming in one minute, the bus is imminent. You use this word when you want to say something is happening right now. It is very useful for travel or school.
Use 'imminent' when you are talking about something that will happen in a very short time. It is like saying 'very soon.' For example, if it is raining, you can say the rain is imminent. It is a serious word that people use when they want to be clear about time.
At this level, you can use 'imminent' to describe events that are certain to happen. It is common in news or business. When you say something is imminent, it means you expect it to start at any second. It is more formal than saying 'soon' or 'next week.'
'Imminent' is an excellent word to add nuance to your writing. It implies that an event is not just coming, but that it is 'looming' or 'threatening.' It is often used with nouns like danger, threat, or success. Use it when you want to create a sense of anticipation or urgency in your speech.
In advanced contexts, 'imminent' is used to describe the inevitability of an event. It is a staple in academic and journalistic prose. It suggests an objective, almost unavoidable timeline. Note the subtle difference between imminent (about to happen) and immanent (existing within something); they sound similar but have very different meanings.
Mastery of 'imminent' involves understanding its etymological roots—the idea of 'overhanging.' In literary contexts, it can be used to create suspense, suggesting that a character is under the weight of an impending fate. It is distinct from 'impending' in that 'imminent' is usually closer in time. Use it to convey a sense of gravity and unavoidable progression in your sophisticated narratives.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means 'happening very soon'.
- Usually used for serious or important events.
- Often confused with 'eminent' (famous).
- Adds a sense of urgency to your language.
Hey there! Have you ever felt that feeling when you know something is just about to happen? That is exactly what imminent describes. It is a fantastic word to use when you want to emphasize that an event is fast approaching.
Think of it as the opposite of 'later.' When something is imminent, it is right on the doorstep. Whether it is an imminent storm or an imminent deadline, the word carries a specific weight. It tells your listener that they need to pay attention because the action is about to unfold immediately.
The word imminent comes to us from the Latin word imminere, which literally means 'to overhang' or 'to threaten.' Imagine something hanging right above your head—that is the visual root of the word!
It entered English in the 16th century. Back then, it kept that sense of something looming or projecting over something else. Over time, the physical 'hanging over' shifted into the abstract idea of time, where we now use it to describe events that are 'looming' in our near future.
You will mostly hear imminent in formal or serious contexts. It is not typically used for casual things like 'my imminent sandwich.' Instead, we use it for things that matter, like imminent danger, imminent collapse, or imminent arrival.
It is a great word for news reports or professional emails. If you are writing a report, saying a project's completion is imminent sounds much more professional than just saying it is 'coming soon.' It adds a layer of urgency and precision to your language.
While imminent is an adjective, it fits into many idiomatic ways of speaking about the future.
- On the horizon: Something is coming soon.
- Just around the corner: Very close in time.
- In the pipeline: Being prepared for imminent release.
- At the eleventh hour: Happening at the last possible moment.
- Writing on the wall: A sign that something bad is imminent.
Pronounced IM-ih-nunt, the stress is clearly on the first syllable. It is an adjective, so it usually comes before a noun (an imminent threat) or after a linking verb like 'is' or 'seems' (the danger was imminent).
It does not have a plural form because it describes a state of being. Rhyming words include prominent, dominant, and immanent (be careful not to confuse those!).
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'mountain' (mons/montis) because both involve things that 'project' or stick out.
Pronunciation Guide
Crisp 'i' sounds, clear 't' at the end.
Slightly softer 'a' sound in the middle.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the middle syllable
- Confusing with 'eminent'
- Stressing the wrong syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common in news and formal writing.
Great for professional writing.
Adds gravitas to speech.
Easy to hear.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective Position
The imminent storm.
Linking Verbs
The storm is imminent.
Absolute Adjectives
It is imminent (not very imminent).
Examples by Level
The rain is imminent.
Rain is coming now.
Adjective after verb.
The meeting is imminent.
The train's arrival is imminent.
There is imminent danger here.
The deadline is imminent.
The storm is imminent.
Success is imminent.
The end is imminent.
The change is imminent.
The imminent departure of the flight was announced.
We are facing an imminent threat to our security.
The company is in imminent danger of bankruptcy.
The imminent release of the new game is exciting.
She felt the imminent pressure of the exam.
The imminent arrival of the guests made him nervous.
They were warned of an imminent flood.
The imminent changes will affect everyone.
The imminent collapse of the bridge caused widespread panic.
He prepared himself for the imminent confrontation.
The imminent implementation of the new policy is controversial.
There is an imminent need for a better solution.
The imminent storm forced us to cancel the trip.
The imminent arrival of spring is finally visible.
She sensed an imminent change in his mood.
The imminent danger was impossible to ignore.
The imminent restructuring of the board left the staff anxious.
His imminent retirement marks the end of an era.
The imminent threat of war led to diplomatic talks.
The imminent publication of the research will change everything.
The imminent danger of the situation was clear to all.
She waited for the imminent announcement with bated breath.
The imminent arrival of the storm was predicted by experts.
The imminent failure of the experiment was a disappointment.
The imminent demise of the monarchy was a topic of intense debate.
He lived in the shadow of an imminent, inescapable fate.
The imminent fusion of the two companies was a strategic masterstroke.
The imminent arrival of the comet was tracked by astronomers.
The imminent threat of litigation hung over the corporation.
The imminent transformation of the landscape was breathtaking.
The imminent conclusion of the trial brought relief to many.
The imminent shift in political power was palpable.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"on the horizon"
about to happen
Big changes are on the horizon.
neutral"just around the corner"
very close
Summer is just around the corner.
casual"at the eleventh hour"
at the last minute
They finished at the eleventh hour.
formal"in the works"
being planned
A new movie is in the works.
neutral"writing on the wall"
an omen of failure
The writing on the wall was clear.
literaryEasily Confused
Sounds almost identical.
Eminent means famous; Imminent means soon.
An eminent scientist vs. an imminent storm.
Sounds almost identical.
Immanent means existing within.
Immanent qualities vs. imminent danger.
Similar meaning.
Impending is often more abstract.
Impending doom vs. imminent arrival.
Similar ending.
Prominent means noticeable.
A prominent nose vs. an imminent change.
Sentence Patterns
The [noun] is imminent.
The end is imminent.
There is an imminent [noun].
There is an imminent threat.
We face imminent [noun].
We face imminent danger.
The imminent [noun] will [verb].
The imminent storm will pass.
Due to imminent [noun], we [verb].
Due to imminent rain, we left.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Imminent implies a very short timeframe.
The words are homophones but have different meanings.
Imminent describes an event or state.
Imminent is an absolute adjective; it doesn't need 'very'.
It often carries a sense of weight or urgency.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a clock with hands moving fast—the time is imminent.
When Native Speakers Use It
In news reports about weather or deadlines.
Cultural Insight
Often used in movies to build suspense.
Grammar Shortcut
Always follow with a noun or use after 'is'.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'IM' at the start.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse with 'eminent' (famous).
Did You Know?
It comes from 'hanging over'.
Study Smart
Use it in your next professional email.
Register Check
Use it to sound more precise.
Adjective Rule
It describes the noun, not the action.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
I-M-M-I-N-E-N-T: 'I'm in, it's about to happen!'
Visual Association
A storm cloud hanging right over a house.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences today using the word 'imminent' for real-life situations.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To overhang or project
Cultural Context
None, but avoid using it to describe trivial things as it sounds overly dramatic.
Used frequently in news broadcasts to describe weather or political crises.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- imminent deadline
- imminent meeting
- imminent changes
Weather
- imminent storm
- imminent rain
- imminent flood
Travel
- imminent departure
- imminent arrival
- imminent takeoff
News
- imminent threat
- imminent danger
- imminent crisis
Conversation Starters
"What is an imminent change you are expecting?"
"Do you think an imminent storm is exciting or scary?"
"Have you ever faced an imminent deadline?"
"How do you prepare for an imminent event?"
"Why do people use 'imminent' instead of 'soon'?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you felt an imminent sense of danger.
Write about a project with an imminent deadline.
How does the word 'imminent' change the tone of a story?
Think of a situation where something was imminent but didn't happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, but it is usually used for serious or significant events.
They are very similar, but 'imminent' is usually closer in time.
Yes, but it might sound a bit dramatic!
No, it is an adjective.
Imminence.
No, adjectives don't have plurals.
It is better to just say 'imminent' as it is already an absolute term.
Yes, it is more formal than 'soon'.
Test Yourself
The storm is ___. We should go inside.
Imminent means about to happen.
Which sentence is correct?
Imminent describes time/events.
Does 'imminent' mean 'far away'?
It means very close.
Word
Meaning
Matches words to meanings.
Subject-verb-adjective order.
Score: /5
Summary
Imminent means that something is just about to happen, often with a sense of urgency or importance.
- Means 'happening very soon'.
- Usually used for serious or important events.
- Often confused with 'eminent' (famous).
- Adds a sense of urgency to your language.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a clock with hands moving fast—the time is imminent.
When Native Speakers Use It
In news reports about weather or deadlines.
Cultural Insight
Often used in movies to build suspense.
Grammar Shortcut
Always follow with a noun or use after 'is'.
