Imminent
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈɪmɪnənt/ or
Origin
From the present participle of Latin imminēre ("to overhang"), from mineŠ("to project, overhang"), related to minae (English menace) and mons (English mount). Compare with eminent.
Full definition of imminent
Adjective
imminent
- about to happen, occur, or take place very soon, especially of something which won't last long.
- 1927, S:Whitney v. California/Concurrence Brandeis, To courageous, self-reliant men, with confidence in the power of free and fearless reasoning applied through the processes of popular government, no danger flowing from speech can be deemed clear and present unless the incidence of the evil apprehended is so imminent that it may befall before there is opportunity for full discussion.
Usage notes
Imminent and eminent are very similar sounds, and are weak rhymes; in some dialects, these may be confused. A typo of either word may result in a correction to the wrong word by spellchecking software. Imminent is also sometimes confused with immanent.
Said of danger, threat and death.