instant
Americannoun
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an infinitesimal or very short space of time; a moment.
They arrived not an instant too soon.
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the point of time now present or present with reference to some action or event.
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a particular moment.
at the instant of contact.
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a food or beverage, especially coffee, specially processed for quick preparation.
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Older Use. the present or current month.
adjective
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succeeding without any interval of time; prompt; immediate.
instant relief from a headache.
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pressing or urgent.
instant need.
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noting a food or beverage requiring a minimal amount of time and effort to prepare, as by heating or the addition of milk or water, before being served or used.
instant coffee; instant pudding.
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occurring, done, or prepared with a minimal amount of time and effort; produced rapidly and with little preparation.
an instant book; instant answers; instant history.
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designed to act or produce results quickly or immediately.
an instant lottery.
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Older Use. of the present month: inst.
your letter of the 12th instant.
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present; current.
the instant case before the court.
adverb
noun
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a very brief time; moment
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a particular moment or point in time
at the same instant
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immediately; without delay
adjective
adverb
Related Words
See minute 1.
Etymology
Origin of instant
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin instant- (stem of instāns ), present participle of instāre “to be present, urgent,” equivalent to in- in- 2 + -stā- stand + -nt- present participle suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And finally, younger generations—Gen Z specifically—have learned to communicate in a digital world, sending texts and instant messages instead of interacting in person.
And in the same instant, Andie’s dreams of a romance with her star-crossed lover begin to cloud her better judgment.
From Salon
He was given it not for an instant but for a lifetime of constructiveness.
Editors quickly signed up to pay Morse for instant news transmissions by telegraph.
From Literature
They prefer instant gratification that extends beyond Mexico.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
