Cool MateImmediately vs Just like that
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Immediately
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
Just like that
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: ImmediatelyMost common: Immediately
| Immediately | Just like that | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈmiːdiətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈmiːdiətli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //dʒʌst laɪk ðæt//🇺🇸 //dʒʌst laɪk ðæt// |
| Meaning | right away, without waiting | Suddenly or easily without effort. |
| Example | He answered the question immediately after it was asked. | He finished his homework, and just like that, he was free to play. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | respond immediately, act immediately, notify immediately | just like that, just like magic, just like before |
| Antonyms | eventually, later | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'immediate' instead of 'immediately'., Confusing with 'eventually', which means later., Incorrectly placing 'immediately' at the end of a sentence. | Used in formal contexts where a more precise phrase is needed., Confused with similar phrases like 'just so' which means 'exactly like this'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'immediately' to emphasize urgency or promptness. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid in very casual contexts. | Used in casual conversation to indicate something occurs quickly or unexpectedly. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Immediately vs Just like that
What's the difference between Immediately and Just like that?
Immediately: right away, without waiting Just like that: Suddenly or easily without effort.
Which is more formal: Immediately and Just like that?
Immediately is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Immediately and Just like that?
Immediately is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Immediately: He answered the question immediately after it was asked. Just like that: He finished his homework, and just like that, he was free to play.
Can I use Immediately and Just like that interchangeably?
Not always. Immediately and Just like that are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.