Cool MateImmediately vs We must go at once
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Immediately
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
We must go at once
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Immediately
| Immediately | We must go at once | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈmiːdiətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈmiːdiətli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wiː mʌst ɡoʊ æt wʌns//🇺🇸 //wi mʌst ɡoʊ æt wʌns// |
| Meaning | right away, without waiting | We need to leave immediately. |
| Example | He answered the question immediately after it was asked. | We must go at once if we want to catch the train. |
| 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 | go at once, must go, leave at once |
| 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. | Confused with 'at once' vs 'right away', Using 'we must go at once' in casual contexts where simpler phrases suffice, Overusing the phrase in non-urgent situations |
| Usage notes | Use 'immediately' to emphasize urgency or promptness. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid in very casual contexts. | Use this phrase to express urgency. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, especially when time is a factor. |
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Frequently asked questions: Immediately vs We must go at once
What's the difference between Immediately and We must go at once?
Immediately: right away, without waiting We must go at once: We need to leave immediately.
Which is more common: Immediately and We must go at once?
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. We must go at once: We must go at once if we want to catch the train.
Can I use Immediately and We must go at once interchangeably?
Not always. Immediately and We must go at once 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.