What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Instantaneous vs Imminent - What's the difference?

instantaneous | imminent |

As adjectives the difference between instantaneous and imminent

is that instantaneous is occurring, arising, or functioning without any delay; happening within an imperceptibly brief period of time while imminent is about to happen, occur, or take place very soon, especially of something which won't last long.

instantaneous

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Occurring]], [[arise, arising, or functioning without any delay; happening within an imperceptibly brief period of time.
  • * 1631 , William Twisse, A discovery of D. Iacksons vanitie , ch. 6, p. 223,
    • This instantaneous motion is supposed by you, to be infinitely swift.
  • * 1766 , , The Vicar of Wakefield , ch. 14.
    • However, no lovers in romance ever cemented a more instantaneous friendship.
  • * 1813 , , Pride and Prejudice , ch. 57,
    • The colour now rushed into Elizabeth's cheeks in the instantaneous conviction of its being a letter from the nephew.
  • * 1907 , , The Secret Agent , ch. 4,
    • It's the principle of the pneumatic instantaneous shutter for a camera lens.
  • * 2007 , Spector jury given graphic account of actress 'murder' Times Online , London, 30 May (retrieved 13 July 2007),
    • He said that the bullet went through her head, severed her spine and death would have been almost instantaneous .

    Synonyms

    * instant

    Derived terms

    * instantaneously * instantaneity

    References

    * * * * * " instantaneous" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (Cambridge University Press, 2007) * " instantaneous" in Compact Oxford English Dictionary , (Oxford University Press, 2007) * Oxford English Dictionary , second edition (1989) English words suffixed with -aneous

    imminent

    English

    (Imminence)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • about to happen, occur, or take place very soon, especially of something which won't last long.
  • *

    • 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.

    Synonyms

    * inevitable * immediate * impending

    Derived terms

    * imminence * imminently

    Related terms

    * eminent * prominent

    External links

    * * * ----