Cool MateForthcoming vs Imminent
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Forthcoming
Top 3,000 (common)C1adjective
Imminent
Top 5,000 (fairly common)C1adjective
Most common: Forthcoming
| Forthcoming | Imminent | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌfɔːθˈkʌmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌfɔːrθˈkʌmɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪmɪnənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪmɪnənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | Coming soon or about to happen. | Something that is going to happen very soon. |
| Example | the forthcoming elections | the imminent threat of invasion |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, readily, immediately, be, not very, about | imminent danger, imminent threat, imminent arrival, imminent decision, imminent change |
| Antonyms | distant, remote, uncertain | distant, remote, unlikely |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'forthcoming' vs 'forth comings' (think of it as a single word)., Using it to describe people who are unwilling to share (it actually means they are ready to share). | 'Imminent' is not interchangeable with 'imminent' when describing future events., Confusing 'imminent' with 'immediate', which means happening right away., Using 'imminent' for events far in the future. |
| Usage notes | Use 'forthcoming' when referring to something that is expected to happen soon, like events or information. It's more formal than just saying 'coming soon.' Avoid in casual conversations. | Use 'imminent' to describe things that are about to happen, especially in serious or urgent situations. It is not typically used in casual conversation. |
Frequently asked questions: Forthcoming vs Imminent
What's the difference between Forthcoming and Imminent?
Forthcoming: Coming soon or about to happen. Imminent: Something that is going to happen very soon.
Which is more common: Forthcoming and Imminent?
Forthcoming is the most common in everyday English.
Are Forthcoming and Imminent the same CEFR level?
Forthcoming: C1, Imminent: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Forthcoming and Imminent?
Forthcoming: adjective, Imminent: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Forthcoming: the forthcoming elections Imminent: the imminent threat of invasion
Can I use Forthcoming and Imminent interchangeably?
Not always. Forthcoming and Imminent 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.