Skip to content

Imminent, Eminent, Immanent: Explained, Definitions & Examples

Last Updated
'imminent vs. eminent' used in text conversation.
‘imminent vs. eminent’ used in text conversation.

Imminent vs. eminent (vs. immanent)

For today’s lesson, we’re taking on a trio of homophones: eminent, imminent and immanent. What do these words mean, and what’s the correct way to use them? Let’s discover the answers, together.

👍🏼Usage Note

The eminent scholar was invited to speak at the international conference.

The government issued a warning about the imminent hurricane.

We eagerly awaited the arrival of the imminent author.

The flickering lights suggested eminent power failure.

What do imminent/eminent/immanent mean?

Besides the shared etymology of these words, they also all happen to be adjectives or describing words. That said, the meaning of each is different, and so they are not interchangeable with each other (and each should be used in the appropriate contexts). Let’s take a look at the dictionary definitions for imminent/eminent/immanent:

  • For something to be imminent, this means it’s “coming or likely to happen very soon: “an imminent disaster/danger“; “We are awaiting their imminent arrival“.
  • Eminent describes something or someone as “famous, respected, or important: “An eminent historian“; “many eminent surgeons are on the hospital’s staff“.
  • Something that is immanent means, “that the thing has that quality, and cannot exist or be imagined without it.” (Collins Dictionary, immanent). For example, ‘beauty is not something imposed but something immanent‘—Anthony Burgess

Imminent, eminent and immanent

Word Form Examples
Present Participle 1520s, from French imminent (14c.) and directly from Latin imminentem (nominative imminens) “overhanging; impending,” present participle of imminere “to overhang, lean towards,” hence “be near to,” also “threaten, menace, impend, be at hand, be about to happen”.

“Indwelling, remaining within, inherent,” 1530s, via French immanent (14c.) or directly from Late Latin immanens, present participle of immanere “to dwell in, remain in,” from assimilated form of in- “into, in, on, upon”

Other Adjective
Sentence examples

imminent
We are awaiting their imminent arrival.

eminent
The conference featured talks by eminent scientists from around the world.

immanent
The artist aims to capture the beauty of immanent patterns in nature.

The company had to take swift action due to the imminent threat of a hostile takeover.

With the volcano showing increased activity, the town’s residents were worried about the imminent eruption.

The doctor warned the patient to make immediate lifestyle changes to prevent the imminent health crisis.

The city’s skyline is dominated by the towering presence of an eminent skyscraper.

In review: imminent vs. eminent vs. immanent

  1. “Eminent” describes someone or something of high reputation, distinction, or significance within a particular field or context.
  2. “Imminent” describes something that is about to happen very soon, often suggesting a sense of urgency or impending occurrence.
  3. “Immanent” refers to something that is inherent, intrinsic, or existing within something else, often in a spiritual or philosophical context.

Read about other commonly confused words

Sources  

  1. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of imminent.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/imminent. Accessed 11 August, 2023.
  2. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of eminent.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/eminent. Accessed 11 August, 2023.
  3. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of immanent.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/immanent. Accessed 11 August, 2023.

Worksheet

Question 1 of 10

According to the post, what does the word “imminent” mean?



Which of the three words is used to describe a person who is famous and respected, based on the post?



The post describes “immanent” as meaning that a quality is inherent and the thing cannot exist without it. Which phrase below uses “immanent” in this sense?



The post highlights “We eagerly awaited the arrival of the imminent author” as an incorrect usage. Why is it incorrect?



Which word does the post use in the example sentence: “The conference featured talks by _______ scientists from around the world.”?



The government issued a warning about the hurricane.



The scholar was invited to speak at the international conference.



Beauty is not something imposed but something , as quoted in the post.



We are awaiting their arrival.



Many surgeons are on the hospital’s staff.





FAQs

What does the word ‘imminent’ mean?
+

Imminent means something is coming or likely to happen very soon. The post uses examples like ‘imminent disaster/danger’ or ‘We are awaiting their imminent arrival’.

What does ’eminent’ mean?
+

Eminent describes someone or something famous, respected, or important. The post gives examples like ‘An eminent historian’, ’eminent scholar’, or ‘many eminent surgeons’.

What is the meaning of ‘immanent’?
+

Immanent means that a quality is inherent in something, and it cannot exist or be imagined without it. The post quotes, “beauty is not something imposed but something immanent”.

Can you use ‘imminent’ and ’eminent’ interchangeably?
+

No, the post explicitly states they are not interchangeable because their meanings are different. Imminent refers to something happening soon, while eminent refers to someone famous or respected.

What is a common mistake with these words?
+

A common error is mixing up ‘imminent’ and ’eminent’. The post notes it’s incorrect to say ‘imminent author’ (should be eminent) or ’eminent power failure’ (should be imminent).

Yash, D. "Imminent, Eminent, Immanent: Explained, Definitions & Examples." Grammarflex, Jun 25, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/imminent-eminent-immanent-explained-definitions-examples/.

The latest from the Grammarflex blog

From grammar and writing to style and clarity, our experts tackle the biggest questions in English and content creation.