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inminente

imminent

adjective een-mee-NEHN-teh Rare

Origin: from Latin imminens (hanging over)

Usage Note

Inminente describes something that is about to happen very soon, typically with a threatening or urgent connotation. It is invariable for gender: un peligro inminente / una crisis inminente. Learners often confuse it with eminente ('eminent, distinguished'), which has a completely different meaning. The adverb is inminentemente.

Examples

"El colapso del edificio parecía inminente."

Natural Translation

The collapse of the building seemed imminent.

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