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imminencethe state of being about to happen; nearness in time

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: the state of being about to happen; nearness in time

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɪmɪnəns/

Example Sentences

  • The imminence of the deadline made him drink his tenth cup of coffee.
  • She could sense the imminence of her mother's lecture about cleaning her room.
  • The imminence of the economic crisis required immediate action.

imminence

NOUN

[/ˈɪmɪnəns/]

the state of being about to happen; nearness in time

Sailors brace as the imminence of the storm becomes impossible to ignore.
💡 Concept

Sailors brace as the imminence of the storm becomes impossible to ignore.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈɪmɪnəns/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈɪmɪnəns/

🌳Etymology

Prefixim--
Rootmin
Suffix--ence

Origin

Imminence derives from Latin imminentia, meaning 'hanging over' or 'threatening from above'. The word originally described something suspended dangerously overhead, metaphorically expressing an impending event that seems about to occur at any moment.

Breakdown

im- (on, upon) + minere (to project, hang over, threaten) + -ence (state or quality of). The root minere conveys the image of something jutting out or hanging threateningly.

🎵Rhyme

prominenceeminencedominance
prominence
eminence
dominance

🔗Collocations

sense the imminence
imminence of danger
growing imminence
imminence of death
feel the imminence
imminence of war

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The imminence of the deadline made him drink his tenth cup of coffee.

😄 Fun example

She could sense the imminence of her mother's lecture about cleaning her room.

The imminence of the economic crisis required immediate action.

The dark clouds suggested the imminence of a thunderstorm.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

nearnessproximityclosenessimmediacyurgency

Antonyms

remotenessdistancedelay

Related

imminentimpendingapproachingthreateninglooming

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