imminently
すぐに
解説 Definition
今にも起ころうとしている状態で、差し迫って。非常に近い将来に起きることを示す。
Imminently means very soon or in the near future, often with a sense that something is about to happen. It is commonly used for events, changes, or dangers that seem close in time.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
imminently は imminent の副詞で、「差し迫った状態で→今にも、すぐに」。まず形で覚えるとよく、-ly を取れば形容詞 imminent「差し迫った」。意味は just now より「出来事が起こる直前」の緊張感が強く、 any moment now に近い。ニュースや説明では war could begin imminently, a decision is expected imminently のように、重大な出来事が目前という場面で出やすい。immediately とつづりも意味も少し近いので混同注意。immediate は「即時の」、imminent は「目前に迫った」。
See the base word `imminent` inside it, then add `-ly`. If something is imminent, it is right on the edge of happening, so `imminently` has an "any moment now" feeling. Be careful not to mix it up with `immediately`: `immediate` means instant, but `imminent` means very near.
例文
The storm was imminently approaching, and residents were urged to evacuate immediately.
嵐が差し迫って接近しており、住民は直ちに避難するよう促された。
The company was imminently facing bankruptcy unless new investors could be found.
新しい投資家が見つからなければ、会社は今にも破産しようとしていた。
Scientists warned that the volcano could imminently erupt based on seismic data.
科学者たちは地震データに基づき、火山が今にも噴火する可能性があると警告した。
imminently の類義語・関連語
類義語
派生語
imminently の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ラテン語 imminere「上に突き出る・差し迫る」から。im-「上へ」+ minere「突き出る」に副詞語尾 -ly が付く。出来事が頭上に迫るイメージから「今にも、すぐに」となる。同根に eminent, preeminent。
"Imminently" comes from "imminent" plus "-ly." "Imminent" goes back to Latin "imminere," meaning "to project over" or "hang over," and it is related to words like "eminent" and "preeminent." From the image of something leaning over or pressing close, the meaning developed into the idea of something being very near in time.
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