The imminent meaning is close at hand: likely to take place within a short time. Dark clouds and a sudden cold wind tell you rain is imminent; a final warning letter can mean a disconnection is imminent.
The word often carries a sense of pressure or threat, which is why news reports pair it with storms, danger, collapse and arrests. It can also be neutral or hopeful, as in an imminent announcement or an imminent birth. Puzzled about what does imminent mean in a headline? Keep going for examples, the common mix-up with eminent and immanent, and the word's vivid Latin picture of something hanging overhead.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Likely to happen at any moment; close at handPart of speech
AdjectivePronunciation
IM-ih-nuhntWord forms
imminently (adverb), imminence (noun)Origin
Latin imminens, from imminere, to overhang or threatenClose words
impending, approaching, looming, near, at handOften confused with
eminent (famous, respected) and immanent (present within)
Imminent meaning: close in time and expected
To define imminent: something is imminent when it will happen very soon and there are clear signs it is coming. Two ideas sit inside the word. One is nearness in time: hours, days or a short, expected wait rather than months or years. The other is likelihood: the event is not just possible but expected.
Because of its history, the word leans toward events that are serious or worrying. "Imminent danger" sounds natural; "imminent lunch" sounds playful, and that is exactly the effect you get if you use it jokingly about something small.
Imminent in everyday sentences
- The weather office warned that a cyclone landfall was imminent and asked fishermen to stay ashore.
- With the deadline imminent, the whole team stayed late on Thursday.
- Officials said a decision on the new metro line is imminent.
- The doctor told the family the baby's arrival was imminent and to head to the hospital.
- He had no idea his promotion was imminent until the director called him in.
Imminent vs eminent vs immanent
These three words sound alike, which causes many spelling errors.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Imminent | About to happen | An imminent storm |
| Eminent | Famous and respected in a field | An eminent surgeon |
| Immanent | Present within, part of the nature of something | A belief that the divine is immanent in nature |
A memory trick: imminent has imm like immediately, which is close to its meaning. Eminent starts with e for esteemed. Immanent, with an a, is the rare one, used mostly in philosophy and religion. The legal phrase eminent domain, a government's power to take private land for public use, is spelled with e, not imm.
Imminent, impending and inevitable
Imminent stresses that something is very close. Impending means coming soon and hanging over you, and it is often used a little further ahead: an impending exam next month. Inevitable means bound to come eventually, saying nothing about when. A storm can be imminent this afternoon, a rate rise impending this quarter, and ageing inevitable over a lifetime. If the thing coming feels threatening, ominous describes the warning signs themselves.
Imminent danger and threat in law and safety
Phrases such as imminent danger, imminent threat and imminent harm appear in safety rules, workplace guidance and law. In many legal systems, a person may use reasonable force to protect themselves only against a threat that is immediate or imminent, not one that might come some day. Workplace safety rules in several countries also let workers refuse tasks that pose imminent danger. The exact tests differ by country and situation.
Imminent definition and its Latin roots
English writers adopted imminent in the fifteenth century, taking it from Old French and Latin imminens, the present participle of imminere, which meant to overhang or lean over, and then to be near or to threaten. The verb combines in- (upon) with a root meaning to jut out. So the picture behind imminent is a rock or a cliff edge hanging over your head, ready to fall. That cliff-edge picture is why imminent still sounds tense. Similar handy words, including threshold, sit together in the everyday vocabulary hub.
Frequently asked questions
Does imminent mean immediately?
Not quite. Immediately means right now, with no delay. Imminent means very soon and expected, so there may still be a short gap of minutes, hours or days.
Is imminent always negative?
No, although it often is. Danger, collapse and attack are common partners, but you can also speak of an imminent agreement, an imminent launch or an imminent homecoming.
How do you say imminent?
Say IM-ih-nuhnt, hitting IM hardest. Eminent sounds nearly identical, so spelling is where you show the difference.
What is the difference between imminent and eminent?
Imminent means about to happen. Eminent means well known and respected, as in an eminent scientist. Writers swap them constantly, so a second glance before sending is worth it.
Can a person be imminent?
Not normally. Events, dangers and decisions are imminent; people are not. You might say a visitor's arrival is imminent instead.
Does imminent have a noun?
Yes: imminence, meaning the state of being about to happen. For example, the imminence of the exam made everyone quiet.