imminent

[im-uh-nuhnt]

adjective

1. likely to occur at any moment; impending.

   Her death is imminent.

   Synonyms: at hand, near
   Antonyms: remote, distant

2. projecting or leaning forward; overhanging.

imminent

/ ˈɪmɪnənt /

adjective

1. liable to happen soon; impending

2. obsolete,  jutting out or overhanging

Other Word Forms

• imminence noun
• imminently adverb
• imminentness noun
• unimminent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imminent¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from 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” ( eminent, mount ² ) + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of imminent¹

C16: from Latin imminēre to project over, from _im- (in) + -minēre to project; related to mons mountain

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

A spokesperson for Counter Terrorism Policing North East said searches were ongoing at a "number of properties", but there was not believed to be "any imminent threat to the public in the UK".

From BBC

“Once these trust funds dry out, water bankruptcy is imminent.”

From Los Angeles Times

Park's imminent arrival, in a separate deal, means United will have a ready-made replacement, allowing Clinton to move in the other direction.

From BBC

Earlier this year US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that China posed an "imminent" threat to Taiwan, and urged Asian countries to boost defence spending and work with the US to deter war.

From BBC

A report published last year found that conditions at the West London immigration centre were "the worst" in the country, and put detainees at "imminent risk of harm".

From BBC

Related Words

• forthcoming 
• immediate 
• impending 
• inevitable 
• likely 
• looming 
• possible 
• probable 
• unavoidable