imminent
imminent Lexical Profile
imminent Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
About to happen or occur in the very near future, especially of something unpleasant or threatening.
"Dark clouds gathered rapidly over the coastline, signaling that a severe storm was imminent."
Overhanging or projecting outwards above something (archaic).
"The hikers walked cautiously beneath the imminent cliffs that jutted out over the narrow mountain pass."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently confused with 'eminent' (famous and respected within a sphere) and 'immanent' (inherent or existing within), 'imminent' specifically refers to something that is about to happen very soon, often carrying a sense of threat or urgency.
• Rhymes for imminent
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th century from Latin 'imminentem', the present participle of 'imminere' ('to overhang or impend'), formed from 'in-' ('upon') and a root related to 'minae' ('projecting points' or 'threats').