imminent

/ˈɪmɪnənt/

Say it: IM-uh-nuhnt

adjective About to happen; likely to occur at any moment, especially in a threatening way.
The dark clouds and sudden drop in temperature signaled an imminent thunderstorm.

📖 Seen in the wild

The dark clouds and strong winds signaled that a storm was imminent.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ imminent in a sentence

Diplomats are working to de-escalate the conflict, but many fear that war is imminent.
With the deadline just an hour away, the project's completion felt imminent.
She kept checking her watch, expecting the imminent arrival of her train.
A hush fell over the valley, as if in anticipation of some imminent and terrible event.
The company's stock price tumbled on news of its imminent bankruptcy.
Despite the reassurances, everyone felt the imminent possibility of layoffs.
The patient's test results showed an imminent risk of cardiac arrest.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

impending looming forthcoming approaching at hand near on the horizon brewing

impending · suggests an event is certain and approaching, but perhaps less immediate than imminent.

looming · adds a sense of threat or ominousness, often for large, negative events.

forthcoming · more neutral and often used for planned or announced events, lacking the urgency of imminent.

approaching · a more general term that doesn't carry the same weight or immediacy.

Opposites: distant, remote, far-off, later

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'imminent' comes from the Latin verb 'imminere', which means 'to overhang' or 'to project over'. This origin paints a vivid picture of a rock hanging over a cliff, ready to fall at any moment. This sense of something physically looming over you evolved into our modern meaning of any event that is about to happen.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

imminent dangerimminent threatimminent collapseimminent arrivalseemed imminentan imminent decision

'Imminent' is frequently confused with two similar-sounding words: 'eminent' (meaning famous and respected) and 'immanent' (a philosophical term meaning inherent). Always double-check that you mean 'about to happen'. While technically neutral, 'imminent' carries a sense of gravity and is most often used to describe significant, and frequently negative, events like storms, dangers, or major decisions.

Word family: imminence, imminently

💬 Quick answers

What does imminent mean?

It means something is about to happen at any moment. It is often used for events that are significant, threatening, or unavoidable.

What is the difference between imminent and impending?

They are very similar, but 'imminent' often suggests greater immediacy, that something could happen at any second. 'Impending' suggests something is steadily approaching and is certain to happen, but perhaps not quite as immediately.

What is the difference between imminent and eminent?

'Imminent' means about to happen. 'Eminent' means famous, respected, and distinguished, like an 'eminent scholar'. They sound similar but have completely different meanings.

Is imminent a negative word?

It often describes negative or stressful events like an 'imminent storm' or 'imminent danger'. However, it can be used for neutral or positive things, like an 'imminent arrival', though this is less common.

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