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Imminent: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Imminent adjective. About to happen very soon.
How to say it
IM-ih-nunt/ˈɪmɪnənt/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (IM).
Imminent in a sentence
Dark clouds warned of an imminent downpour.
Staff were told that an announcement was imminent.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- impending
- approaching
- looming
- forthcoming
Opposite:
- distant
- remote
Usage note
Imminent means about to happen; eminent means distinguished. A rarer third, immanent, means present within something.
Don’t confuse with eminent
eminent (adjective): Famous and respected within a particular field.
Where imminent comes from
From Latin imminere, to overhang or threaten.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Staff were told that an announcement was _____.
- imminent
- credulous
- continual
Show the answer
imminent: Staff were told that an announcement was imminent.