Synonyms for Immediately: 90 Better Words With Meanings and Examples

An efficient reply is good — but an immediate one can save a deal, a patient, or a friendship. Urgency is hard to express when every urgent sentence uses the same word: “immediately”.

This article gives you 90 ways to express “right now” with the right pressure. Instantly and at once are clean and neutral; right away and straight away sound natural in speech; and this instant and this very moment push the urgency to its peak. Every word comes with a meaning and examples.

From office emails to emergency instructions, you will now have a word that matches the clock exactly — fast, faster, or fastest.

🧠 Immediately vs Instantly vs Soon

Immediately → Now, with no delay at all

Instantly → In one single moment, at once

Soon → In a short time, but not now

👉 Use the right word to express the exact time.

1. Instantly

Meaning: At once, with no time passing.
Examples:

The lights went out instantly.
She replied instantly to my message.

2. At once

Meaning: Now, without waiting.
Examples:

Please come here at once.
He stopped the car at once.

3. Right away

Meaning: Now, without any delay.
Examples:

I will call you right away.
She left right away after class.

4. Straight away

Meaning: Now, without waiting. Common in British English.
Examples:

Tell me straight away if you need help.
He went home straight away.

5. Now

Meaning: At this present time.
Examples:

Start the work now.
We must leave now.

6. Right now

Meaning: At this exact moment, not later.
Examples:

I need the file right now.
She is busy right now.

7. This instant

Meaning: This exact moment. Strong and urgent.
Examples:

Stop that this instant!
Come inside this instant.

8. This minute

Meaning: This exact minute, without waiting.
Examples:

I want it done this minute.
Call him this minute.

9. This second

Meaning: This exact second. Very urgent.
Examples:

Put that down this second!
She wants an answer this second.

10. This very moment

Meaning: This exact moment, no later.
Examples:

I need your help this very moment.
He left this very moment.

11. At this moment

Meaning: At the time happening now.
Examples:

At this moment, the shop is closed.
She is in a meeting at this moment.

12. In a flash

Meaning: Very quickly, in a sudden short moment.
Examples:

The answer came to me in a flash.
He was gone in a flash.

13. In an instant

Meaning: In one very short moment.
Examples:

In an instant, everything changed.
She understood in an instant.

14. In a split second

Meaning: In a tiny part of a second.
Examples:

He made the decision in a split second.
The glass broke in a split second.

15. In the blink of an eye

Meaning: So fast that it feels like one blink.
Examples:

The holidays passed in the blink of an eye.
In the blink of an eye, the bird flew away.

16. In a heartbeat

Meaning: Without any pause, very willingly and fast.
Examples:

I would help her in a heartbeat.
He said yes in a heartbeat.

17. In no time

Meaning: In a very short time.
Examples:

We finished the work in no time.
He learned the song in no time.

18. In a jiffy

Meaning: In a very short time. Informal word.
Examples:

I will be back in a jiffy.
She fixed the problem in a jiffy.

19. In a trice

Meaning: In a very short moment. Old but still used.
Examples:

In a trice, the room was ready.
He changed his clothes in a trice.

20. Like lightning

Meaning: Extremely fast.
Examples:

The boy ran like lightning.
News spreads like lightning online.

21. Before you know it

Meaning: So quickly that it surprises you.
Examples:

Before you know it, the day will be over.
She finished the book before you know it.

22. In next to no time

Meaning: In almost no time at all.
Examples:

They built the stage in next to no time.
He solved the puzzle in next to no time.

23. Promptly

Meaning: Quickly and at the right time, without delay.
Examples:

She replied promptly to the email.
The train left promptly at nine.

24. Forthwith

Meaning: At once. Very formal word, used in official writing.
Examples:

The order must be obeyed forthwith.
He was sent home forthwith.

25. Without delay

Meaning: With no waiting at all.
Examples:

Send the report without delay.
The doctor came without delay.

26. Without hesitation

Meaning: Without pausing to think or doubt.
Examples:

She said yes without hesitation.
He helped the old man without hesitation.

27. Without waiting

Meaning: Without staying for something else first.
Examples:

He left without waiting for lunch.
She started without waiting for the others.

28. Without a pause

Meaning: Without stopping even for a short break.
Examples:

He spoke for an hour without a pause.
She worked without a pause till evening.

29. Without a second thought

Meaning: Without stopping to think again.
Examples:

He gave the money without a second thought.
She accepted the job without a second thought.

30. On the spot

Meaning: At the place and at the moment, without leaving or waiting.
Examples:

The manager made the decision on the spot.
He was fined on the spot.

31. There and then

Meaning: At that place and at that exact time.
Examples:

She bought the dress there and then.
He decided there and then to quit.

32. At the drop of a hat

Meaning: At once, without any planning or waiting.
Examples:

She will travel at the drop of a hat.
He helps his friends at the drop of a hat.

33. At a moment’s notice

Meaning: At any time, as soon as you are asked.
Examples:

She can leave at a moment’s notice.
The team is ready at a moment’s notice.

34. On sight

Meaning: As soon as something or someone is seen.
Examples:

The guard stopped him on sight.
She fell in love with the house on sight.

35. Right after

Meaning: Just after something, with no gap.
Examples:

Call me right after the meeting.
He slept right after dinner.

36. As soon as

Meaning: At the moment when something happens.
Examples:

Text me as soon as you reach home.
As soon as the bell rang, the children ran out.

37. The moment

Meaning: At the exact time when something happens.
Examples:

The moment I saw her, I smiled.
He called the moment the news came.

38. The instant

Meaning: At the exact moment when something happens.
Examples:

The instant the rain stopped, we went out.
She woke up the instant the alarm rang.

39. At the first opportunity

Meaning: As soon as it is possible.
Examples:

I will talk to him at the first opportunity.
She applied at the first opportunity.

40. ASAP

Meaning: As soon as possible. Short, common in emails and work messages.
Examples:

Please send the file ASAP.
We need the report ASAP.

41. Urgently

Meaning: In a way that needs fast action.
Examples:

The medicine is urgently needed.
He urgently asked for help.

42. Speedily

Meaning: In a fast way, without wasting time.
Examples:

The work was speedily done.
She speedily answered all the questions.

43. Swiftly

Meaning: Quickly and smoothly.
Examples:

The police acted swiftly.
He swiftly packed his bag.

44. Rapidly

Meaning: In a fast way, with quick change or movement.
Examples:

The city is growing rapidly.
She learned English rapidly.

45. Quickly

Meaning: In a short time, at a fast speed.
Examples:

Please come quickly.
He quickly finished his homework.

46. Fast

Meaning: In a short time, with great speed.
Examples:

Time goes fast on holidays.
She ran fast to catch the bus.

47. At top speed

Meaning: As fast as possible.
Examples:

The car moved at top speed.
He typed at top speed.

48. On the double

Meaning: Very quickly. Informal phrase.
Examples:

Get those boxes upstairs on the double!
She finished the task on the double.

49. Pronto

Meaning: Quickly, without delay. Informal word.
Examples:

Bring me that file, pronto!
We need a taxi, pronto.

50. Chop-chop

Meaning: Hurry up and do it fast. Informal phrase.
Examples:

Finish your breakfast, chop-chop!
“Chop-chop,” said the chef, “the guests are waiting.”

51. Stat

Meaning: At once. Used by doctors and in hospitals.
Examples:

The nurse was called stat.
“Get the doctor, stat!” she shouted.

52. Directly

Meaning: At once or very soon after. Formal and old use.
Examples:

He will come directly.
She replied directly to the letter.

53. Straight off

Meaning: At once, without stopping to think.
Examples:

I could not answer straight off.
He named all the capitals straight off.

54. Right off

Meaning: At once, from the very start.
Examples:

I liked him right off.
She knew the answer right off.

55. Right off the bat

Meaning: At once, at the very beginning.
Examples:

He scored a goal right off the bat.
Right off the bat, she asked a hard question.

56. In short order

Meaning: Quickly and in a very short time.
Examples:

The team finished the job in short order.
She was served in short order.

57. In double-quick time

Meaning: Extremely quickly. British phrase.
Examples:

He got dressed in double-quick time.
The tickets sold in double-quick time.

58. In record time

Meaning: Faster than ever before.
Examples:

She finished the race in record time.
They built the house in record time.

59. At lightning speed

Meaning: At an extremely fast speed.
Examples:

The message spread at lightning speed.
He worked at lightning speed.

60. Quick as a flash

Meaning: Extremely quick.
Examples:

Quick as a flash, the cat caught the mouse.
She was gone, quick as a flash.

61. Like a shot

Meaning: Very quickly and willingly.
Examples:

He ran out like a shot.
She would accept the offer like a shot.

62. Without further ado

Meaning: Without waiting or talking more, starting now.
Examples:

Without further ado, let us start the show.
Without further ado, here is our guest.

63. At short notice

Meaning: With only a little warning or time to prepare.
Examples:

She can travel at short notice.
The meeting was arranged at short notice.

64. Shortly

Meaning: In a short time from now, very soon.
Examples:

The bus will arrive shortly.
She will call you shortly.

65. Presently

Meaning: Very soon, or at the present time. Formal word.
Examples:

The doctor will see you presently.
He will arrive presently.

66. Before long

Meaning: Soon, after a short time.
Examples:

Before long, the rain stopped.
You will feel better before long.

67. In a moment

Meaning: In a very short time, almost now.
Examples:

I will be with you in a moment.
The food will be ready in a moment.

68. In a minute

Meaning: In a very short time. Informal phrase.
Examples:

Wait, I am coming in a minute.
She will finish in a minute.

69. In a second

Meaning: In a very short time. Informal phrase.
Examples:

I will check it in a second.
He was back in a second.

70. Just now

Meaning: At this moment, or a very short time ago.
Examples:

She is not free just now.
He called just now.

71. Posthaste

Meaning: With great speed. Formal and slightly old word.
Examples:

The letter was sent posthaste.
He returned posthaste to the office.

72. At the earliest moment

Meaning: As early as it can possibly be done.
Examples:

We will reply at the earliest moment.
She left at the earliest moment.

73. At the first chance

Meaning: As soon as a chance comes.
Examples:

I will ask him at the first chance.
She ran to the shop at the first chance.

74. Instantaneously

Meaning: In one instant, with no time passing at all.
Examples:

The machine stopped instantaneously.
Light reaches us almost instantaneously.

75. Momentarily

Meaning: In a very short time from now.
Examples:

The plane will land momentarily.
She will join us momentarily.

76. Soon

Meaning: In a short time from now.
Examples:

The results will come soon.
See you soon!

77. Very soon

Meaning: In a really short time from now.
Examples:

Dinner will be ready very soon.
He will be home very soon.

78. Any moment now

Meaning: At some time in the next few moments.
Examples:

The guests can arrive any moment now.
The show will start any moment now.

79. Any second now

Meaning: At some time in the next few seconds.
Examples:

The baby can wake up any second now.
Any second now, the bell will ring.

80. Just like that

Meaning: Suddenly and easily, in one quick moment.
Examples:

Just like that, the problem was solved.
He clicked his fingers, and just like that, the lights came on.

81. All at once

Meaning: Suddenly, at one time, without warning.
Examples:

All at once, the lights went out.
The questions came all at once.

82. Suddenly

Meaning: Quickly and unexpectedly, without warning.
Examples:

Suddenly, it started raining.
He stood up suddenly and left.

83. At a stroke

Meaning: With one single action, at once. Formal phrase.
Examples:

The new law changed everything at a stroke.
He solved the problem at a stroke.

84. In one go

Meaning: In a single attempt, without stopping.
Examples:

She read the book in one go.
He drank the water in one go.

85. From the word go

Meaning: From the very start, right at the beginning.
Examples:

The plan was a success from the word go.
From the word go, the team worked fast.

86. Hotfoot

Meaning: To go somewhere quickly and at once.
Examples:

He had to hotfoot it to the station.
She hotfooted to the office after the call.

87. Without further delay

Meaning: With no more waiting at all.
Examples:

Without further delay, we signed the paper.
The work began without further delay.

88. Without wasting time

Meaning: Using every moment, with no delay.
Examples:

Without wasting time, she started cooking.
He packed his bag without wasting time.

89. Without missing a beat

Meaning: Without pausing at all, continuing at once.
Examples:

She answered without missing a beat.
The band played on without missing a beat.

90. On cue

Meaning: At exactly the right moment, as if planned.
Examples:

Right on cue, the rain started.
He entered on cue and began his speech.

❓ FAQ Section

What is another word for immediately?
Common words include instantly, at once, right away, promptly, and in a flash.

How do you say immediately in a formal way?
Use words like promptly, forthwith, or without delay.

What is a stronger word than immediately?
This instant, in a split second, or in the blink of an eye show stronger and faster action.

What is a casual way to say immediately?
You can say right away, in a jiffy, pronto, or chop-chop.

What is the difference between immediately and soon?
Immediately means now, with no delay. Soon means after a short time, but not now.

CONCLUSION
Learning synonyms for immediately helps you improve your writing and speaking. It makes your words more powerful and clear. This is very useful for blogging, emails, essays, and daily conversations.

Start using these words today. Practice a little every day, and your English will become more natural and confident.