imminent

adjective

im·mi·nent | \ ˈi-mə-nənt

Definition of imminent

: ready to take place : happening soon … systems engineers have become rather blasé about the imminent liftoff.— Steven L. Thompson —often used of something bad or dangerous seen as menacingly near imminent disasterLike books, board games appear headed for imminent demise at the hands of cathode-ray terminals.— Will Manley

Other Words from imminent Synonyms On Imminent and Eminent More Example Sentences Learn More about imminent

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On Imminent and Eminent

Imminent bears a close resemblance to eminent, and native English-speakers can be excused if they sometimes have to check their spelling. No surprise, really, since the two, despite their very distinct meanings, come from near-identical sources. The Latin minēre means basically “to project, overhang,” and it forms the root of other Latin words. One added the prefix e-, meaning “out from,” to produce eminēre, “to stand out”; another took the prefix im-, meaning “upon,” and became imminēre, “to project.” The difference between “stand out” and “project” is obviously small. Still, even when eminent and imminent first appeared as English words in the 15th and 16th centuries respectively, they were clearly distinct in meaning, imminent’s prefix having strengthened the “overhang” sense of minēre to give the word its frequent suggestion of looming threat.

Examples of imminent in a Sentence

The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the local authorities were momentarily stunned, and began frantically trying to prepare for what they feared were further imminent attacks. — Richard A. Clarke, Atlantic, January/February 2005 The compression squashes the bullet slightly, enabling about a half-dozen spiral grooves cut along the barrel's inner wall to grab the bullet and make it spin. That spin stabilizes the bullet's imminent flight. — Peter Weiss, Science News, 11 Jan. 2003 Plaints about the imminent demise of the language are made in every century. But there is usually nothing inherently wrong with most changes the purists deplore. — Steven Pinker, New York Times, 24 Dec. 1999 We are awaiting their imminent arrival. These patients are facing imminent death.

Recent Examples on the Web

Completion of its $4.7bn acquisition of Oaktree Capital, a credit-investment firm, is imminent. — The Economist, "How a Canadian firm has taken on Wall Street’s private-equity titans," 31 Aug. 2019 Now, investors are hopeful that progress might be imminent, even if details are scant, said Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni research. — Taylor Telford, Washington Post, "Stock futures rise sharply after China says it’s opposed to further escalation in trade war," 29 Aug. 2019 The strike authorization vote does not mean that a strike is imminent. — Billy Kobin, The Courier-Journal, "Ford workers in Louisville vote to authorize strike if needed, union leaders say," 28 Aug. 2019 When Macri took office, a balance-of-payments crisis was imminent, foreign-exchange reserves were dwindling, and inflation levels were so high that Kirchner’s government had altered official statistics. — Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, "Argentina Considers a Return to Peronism," 28 Aug. 2019 This is not to say a vacancy is necessarily imminent. — Tessa Berenson, Time, "Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has No Plans to Retire. But Washington Is Preparing for the Battle Over Her Seat," 28 Aug. 2019 The look is a cool slide from summer miniskirts into fall bell bottoms, an indicator your wardrobe's transition into cooler weather is imminent. — Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, "Sophie Turner’s Overalls Will Be Your Go-To Fall Fashion Item," 26 Aug. 2019 But the inversion doesn't mean a recession is imminent. — Cnn Business Staff, CNN, "What is the yield curve and why it matters," 22 Aug. 2019 Even so, Laureano’s return to the A’s is not imminent. — Ron Kroichick, SFChronicle.com, "A’s will treat Ramon Laureano carefully, as Mark Canha shines in center field," 21 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'imminent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for imminent

imminent

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of imminent

: happening very soon

See the full definition for imminent in the English Language Learners Dictionary

imminent

adjective

im·mi·nent | \ ˈi-mə-nənt

Kids Definition of imminent

: being about to happen imminent danger

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imminent

Definition of imminent

Other Words from imminent

Synonyms for imminent

On Imminent and Eminent

Examples of imminent in a Sentence

First Known Use of imminent

History and Etymology for imminent

English Language Learners Definition of imminent

Kids Definition of imminent

imminent

Definition of imminent

Other Words from imminent

Synonyms for imminent

On Imminent and Eminent

Examples of imminent in a Sentence

First Known Use of imminent

History and Etymology for imminent

English Language Learners Definition of imminent

Kids Definition of imminent

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