immediately

Immediately is an adverb that denotes action without any delay. It signals that something should happen at once or that a response is required without waiting. The sense emphasizes immediacy and often conveys urgency, necessity, or a procedural deadline rather than mere speed.

Originating from the adjective immediate, the word ultimately derives from Latin immediatus, meaning not mediated or direct. The adverb form entered English in the Middle Ages and retained its core sense of occurring without an intervening interval.

Common constructions include immediately after, immediately before, and immediately following. In formal writing and legal or policy language, it can impose a strict requirement: for example, "The notice must be complied with immediately." In everyday speech, phrases like right away or at once serve similar functions, though immediacy can suggest a stronger imperative. Instantly and promptly are related but carry slightly different nuances.

Related forms include immediate, the adjective; immediacy, the noun; and nearly synonymous terms such as instantly, promptly, and without delay.