imminent

imminent — 形容詞

1. used to describe a dangerous, important, or unavoidable event that feels so clos

1.形容詞C2
釋義

迫在眉睫

極可能且很快發生，多指危險

used to describe a dangerous, important, or unavoidable event that feels so close you expect it to happen at any moment — like a war before the first shot is fired, or a storm when the first drops are seconds away.

例句

A second earthquake was imminent — rescue workers warned it could strike within hours.

第二次地震迫在眉睫——救援人員警告數小時內可能發生。

be + imminent + dash + time reference clause

With dark clouds gathering overhead, Leila knew a storm was imminent.

眼見烏雲密布，Leila 知道暴風雨即將來臨。

同義詞
  • impending

    strongly negative connotation; suggests something threatening is about to happen (closer to 'imminent' than other synonyms)

  • looming

    more visual and menacing; suggests the event appears large and threatening on the horizon

  • approaching

    more neutral; simply means getting nearer without the urgency or threat of 'imminent'

  • forthcoming

    neutral or positive; used for information, events, or opportunities that will happen soon

反義詞
  • distant

    far off in time; the opposite of 'close at hand'

  • remote

    very unlikely to happen soon, if at all

文法句型

be + imminent

seem/become/appear + imminent

imminent + noun

用法筆記

Typically describes serious or negative events — danger, war, disaster, collapse, or major change. Unlike 'likely' or 'soon', it suggests the event is so close it feels unavoidable. Common in news reports, formal announcements, and crisis situations.

常見錯誤

❌The bus arrival is imminent in three minutes.
✅The bus is about to arrive in three minutes.
💡Imminent is used for events of great importance or danger, not for routine scheduled events.
❌Imminent rain is possible next week.
✅Rain is imminent
💡take an umbrella now.' — Imminent means right now or very soon, not at some distant point.