Cool MateImmediately vs Right away
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Immediately
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
Right away
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Immediately
| Immediately | Right away | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈmiːdiətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈmiːdiətli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //raɪt əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //raɪt əˈweɪ// |
| Meaning | right away, without waiting | Immediately or without delay |
| Example | He answered the question immediately after it was asked. | Please send the report right away. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| 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 | act right away, respond right away, call right away |
| 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. | Using 'right away' in a formal context where a more formal phrase is needed., Confusing it with 'right of way,' which means priority in traffic., Using it without a verb, as it normally needs context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'immediately' to emphasize urgency or promptness. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid in very casual contexts. | Typically used in both written and spoken English to indicate urgency. Can be polite or direct depending on context. |
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Frequently asked questions: Immediately vs Right away
What's the difference between Immediately and Right away?
Immediately: right away, without waiting Right away: Immediately or without delay
Which is more common: Immediately and Right away?
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. Right away: Please send the report right away.
Can I use Immediately and Right away interchangeably?
Not always. Immediately and Right away 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.