imminent
gb/ˈɪmənənt/ us/ˈɪmənənt/
C1
English
~ 8100
küszöbön álló, közelgő, közvetlen
C1
1
közelgő
B1
Usage pattern:
[event] is imminent
With the deadline imminent, the team worked late into the night.
A küszöbön álló határidő miatt a csapat késő estig dolgozott.
The company's imminent merger has investors feeling nervous.
A vállalat küszöbön álló egyesülése idegessé teszi a befektetőket.
She was excited about the imminent arrival of her first child.
Analysts say an imminent decision from the court could affect the whole industry.
Rumors of his imminent departure from the club began to spread online.
Learner examples
The train’s arrival is imminent.
A vonat hamarosan megérkezik.
A storm is imminent, so we should go inside.
Vihar közeleg, úgyhogy menjünk be.
Graduation is imminent, and the students are very happy.
The manager said that changes to our schedule are imminent.
Her flight is imminent, so she is packing her bags now.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "imminent" with "eminent". "Imminent" means something is about to happen very soon, while "eminent" means very famous or respected. Another mistake is saying *"imminent to happen"*; the correct pattern is simply "[event] is imminent", not followed by "to".
Meaning
about to happen very soon
Collocations
imminent arrival
|imminent release
|imminent decision
|imminent change
|imminent departure
|imminent takeover
Synonyms
upcoming (Neutral and common; often used for planned events, without the formal or serious tone of "imminent".)
|
approaching (Focuses more on something drawing nearer in time or space; slightly less strong about how soon it will happen.)
|
pending (Emphasizes that something is waiting to be decided or completed, not always that it will happen very soon.)
Antonyms
distant (Describes events that are far away in time, the opposite of happening very soon.)
|
remote (Suggests something is far off in time or unlikely to happen soon.)
Themes
time
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Going to happen very soon.
Happening very soon or likely to happen at any moment.
C1
2
közvetlen
B1
Usage pattern:
imminent [negative noun]
Residents were evacuated due to the imminent danger of flooding.
A lakosokat kitelepítették az árvíz közvetlen veszélye miatt.
Officials warned that an imminent attack could not be ruled out.
A hatóságok figyelmeztettek, hogy nem zárható ki egy közvetlen támadás veszélye.
The report spoke of an imminent environmental disaster if no action was taken.
Doctors said the patient was no longer in imminent danger after the surgery.
The collapse of the bridge seemed imminent as deep cracks appeared in its supports.
Learner examples
The child was in imminent danger near the busy road.
A gyerek közvetlen veszélyben volt a forgalmas út mellett.
Police said there was no imminent threat to the public.
A rendőrség szerint a lakosságot nem fenyegeti közvetlen veszély.
Firefighters arrived quickly because they saw imminent danger.
The building was old and in imminent danger of falling down.
Doctors acted fast because they knew death was imminent.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "imminent" when they only mean "bad" or "dangerous", but it must also be very close in time. Another confusion is with "immediate": "immediate" can mean right now or without delay, while "imminent" means very soon, but not necessarily this instant.
Meaning
about to cause harm very soon
Collocations
imminent danger
|imminent threat
|imminent attack
|imminent collapse
|imminent disaster
|imminent war
Synonyms
looming (Often used for negative events that are coming closer and feel threatening, slightly more informal and figurative in tone.)
|
threatening (Emphasizes the feeling of danger more than the closeness in time; can describe behavior as well as events.)
|
impending (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and often used for serious or worrying events.)
Antonyms
averted (Describes a danger or bad event that has been successfully prevented, the opposite of something harmful about to happen.)
|
unlikely (Suggests that something bad is not expected to happen, the opposite of a danger that feels near and real.)
Themes
warnings
|risk
|emergencies
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Going to happen very soon and likely to be dangerous or very bad.
About to happen very soon and likely to cause harm, danger, or serious problems.
Grammar
Dictionary form
imminent
IPA
GB/ˈɪmənənt/
US/ˈɪmənənt/
Syllables & stress
im - min - ent (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (im)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: imminent
Word family
Core family
imminence
noun
imminently
adverb
Expressions
imminent threat
1/ˈɪmənənt θɹˈɛt/
fixed phrase
danger likely to occur soon
A danger that will probably happen very soon.
Examples
- Security officials said there was no imminent threat to the city.
- The report warned of an imminent threat to local wildlife.
in imminent danger
1/ˈɪn ˈɪmənənt dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚ/
fixed phrase
very close to being harmed
Very likely to be hurt, killed, or badly affected very soon.
Examples
- The hikers were in imminent danger as the wildfire moved toward them.
- Doctors said the patient was no longer in imminent danger after the operation.