Synonyms: moment, second, minute, shake [informal] More Synonyms of instant
2. singular noun [usu at/inN]
If you say that something happens at a particular instant, you mean that it happens at exactly the time you have been referring to, and you are usually suggesting that it happens quickly or immediately.
At that instant the museum was plunged into total darkness.
In the same instant he flung open the car door.
Synonyms: time, point, hour, moment More Synonyms of instant
3.
See the instant
4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You use instant to describe something that happens immediately.
Mr Porter's book was an instant hit.
He had taken an instant dislike to Mortlake.
Synonyms: immediate, prompt, instantaneous, direct More Synonyms of instant
instantlyadverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
The man was killed instantly.
The songs are instantly recognisable.
Synonyms: immediately, at once, straight away, now More Synonyms of instant
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Instant food is food that you can prepare very quickly, for example by just adding water.
...instant coffee.
More Synonyms of instant
instant in British English
(ˈɪnstənt)
noun
1.
a very brief time; moment
2.
a particular moment or point in time
at the same instant
3. on the instant
adjective
4.
immediate; instantaneous
5.
(esp of foods) prepared or designed for preparation with very little time and effort
instant coffee
6.
urgent or imperative
7. (postpositive)(when abbreviated in formal correspondence)
a.
of the present month
a letter of the 7th instant
Abbreviation: inst. Compare proximo, ultimo
b.
currently under consideration
adverb
8. a poetic word for instantly
Word origin
C15: from Latin instāns, from instāre to be present, press closely, from in-2 + stāre to stand
instant in American English
(ˈɪnstənt)
adjective
1.
urgent; pressing
2.
soon to happen; imminent
3.
without delay; immediate
to demand instant obedience
4.
designating a food or beverage in readily soluble, concentrated, or precooked form, that can be prepared quickly, as by adding water
5. Archaic
present; current
adverb
6. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
at once; instantly
7. OLD-FASHIONED
(in the) present (month)
yours of the 13th (day) instant received
see also proximo, ultimo
noun
8.
a point or very short space of time; moment
9.
a particular moment
Idioms:
on the instant
the instant
Word origin
LME < MFr < L instans, prp. of instare, to stand upon or near, press < in-, in, upon + stare, to stand
Examples of 'instant' in a sentence
instant
What happened next was an instant hit on social media.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The simple artificial flower became an instant hit.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It will mean an instant ban for new drivers as that is their limit during their first two years.
The Sun (2016)
I reckon yours is an instant classic.
The Sun (2016)
He landed his first chat show in 1971 and brought a no-nonsense attitude to the celebrity interview that proved an instant hit.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The opportunity to justify was sufficient protection for employers in the circumstances of the instant case.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And failure in any one segment of the course means an instant return to their original unit.
Brian Hoey AT HOME WITH THE QUEEN: The Inside Story of the Royal Household (2002)
The outstanding moments of the sketch comedy feel like instant classics.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We always hoped it would be something instant and easy.
Christianity Today (2000)
We live in a time of instant gratification.
The Sun (2011)
They are instant hits that involve almost no cooking.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Then the guy who promoted me left and his replacement took an instant dislike to me.
The Sun (2013)
She has not discovered that differences do not mean instant disapproval.
Wilkinson, Helena Beyond Chaotic Eating (1993)
Such special circumstances did exist in the instant case.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The next instant something leaped into the room.
George MacDonald The Princess and the Goblin (1872)
Perhaps my most vivid horsey memory is one that took place in a single instant of time.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The two men took an instant dislike to each other.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
In the instant cases the sentences were to be upheld.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The fridge was supplied with a pint of milk and there was instant coffee and tea bags by the kettle.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But the return has been instant.
The Sun (2012)
To my mind an instant classic.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Today we live in a skinny latte world and instant coffee won't do.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's the one thing you can use to add instant polish.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She was an instant, huge hit with designers and fans.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Biscuits, kettle and a few precious sachets of instant coffee.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
instant
British English: instant /ˈɪnstənt/ ADJECTIVE
You use instant to describe something that happens immediately.
He took an instant dislike to the woman.
American English: instant
Arabic: سَرِيعٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: imediato
Chinese: 立即的
Croatian: trenutačan
Czech: okamžitý
Danish: øjeblikkelig
Dutch: onmiddellijk
European Spanish: instantáneo
Finnish: välitön
French: instantané
German: sofortig
Greek: στιγμιαίος
Italian: istantaneo
Japanese: 即座の
Korean: 즉시의
Norwegian: umiddelbar
Polish: nagły
European Portuguese: imediato
Romanian: imediat
Russian: мгновенный
Latin American Spanish: instantáneo
Swedish: omedelbar
Thai: ทันทีทันใด
Turkish: anında
Ukrainian: миттєвий
Vietnamese: lập tức
British English: instant NOUN
An instant is an extremely short period of time.
For an instant, she was tempted to flee.
American English: instant
Brazilian Portuguese: instante
Chinese: 瞬间
European Spanish: instante
French: instant
German: Augenblick
Italian: istante
Japanese: 瞬時
Korean: 순간
European Portuguese: instante
Latin American Spanish: instante
All related terms of 'instant'
the instant
To do something the instant something else happens means to do it immediately.
instant fame
If you achieve fame , you become very well-known .
instant access
the ability or access to withdraw (money from a bank ) whenever needed
instant camera
a type of camera which self-develops and prints photographs immediately after they have been taken
instant message
a message sent using instant-messaging technology
instant replay
An instant replay is a repeated showing , usually in slow motion , of an event that has just been on television .
instant success
Someone or something that is a success achieves a high position, makes a lot of money, or is admired a great deal.
instant connection
A connection is a relationship between two things, people, or groups.
instant feedback
If you get feedback on your work or progress , someone tells you how well or badly you are doing, and how you could improve. If you get good feedback you have worked or performed well.
instant messaging
Instant messaging is a form of written communication that allows you to send messages from one computer to another. The message appears immediately on the screen of the computer you send it to, provided the computer is using the service . The abbreviation IM is also used.
instant reaction
Your reaction to something that has happened or something that you have experienced is what you feel , say , or do because of it.
on the instant
immediately ; without delay
instant photography
photography using an instant camera
action replay
An action replay is a repeated showing , usually in slow motion, of an event that has just been on television.
Chinese translation of 'instant'
instant
(ˈɪnstənt)
n(c)
(= moment) 瞬息 (shùnxī) (个(個), gè)
adj
[reaction, success]立即的 (lìjí de)
[coffee, soup, noodles]速食的 (sùshí de)
she called the police the instant he left他一走，她就叫警察了 (tā yī zǒu, tā jiù jiào jǐngchá le)
at that instant在那一瞬间(間) (zài nà yī shùnjiān)
for an instant一瞬间(間) (yī shùnjiān)
in an instant立即 (lìjí)
All related terms of 'instant'
in an instant
立即 lìjí
instant message
即时通讯 jíshí tōngxùn [ 个(個) gè ]
at that instant
在那一瞬间(間) zài nà yī shùnjiān
for an instant
一瞬间(間) yī shùnjiān
IM
instant messaging 即时通讯工具 jíshí tōngxùn gōngjù
she called the police the instant he left
他一走，她就叫警察了 tā yī zǒu, tā jiù jiào jǐngchá le
1 (noun)
Definition
a very brief time
The pain disappeared in an instant.
Synonyms
moment
In a moment he was gone.
second
For a few seconds nobody said anything.
minute
I'll be with you in a minute.
shake (informal)
flash
tick (British, informal)
I'll be back in a tick.
no time
twinkling
And then in a twinkling all vanished away.
split second
jiffy (informal)
I'll have this truck fixed in a jiffy.
trice
She was back in a trice.
twinkling of an eye (informal)
two shakes (informal)
two shakes of a lamb's tail (informal)
bat of an eye (informal)
2 (noun)
Definition
a particular moment
At the same instant, she flung open the car door.
Synonyms
time
It seemed like a good time to tell her.
point
At this point, Diana arrived.
hour
moment
At this moment a car stopped outside the house.
stage
the final stage of the tour
occasion
I often think fondly of an occasion some years ago.
phase
The crisis is entering a crucial phase.
juncture
We're at a critical juncture.
1 (adjective)
Definition
immediate
I had taken an instant dislike to her.
Synonyms
immediate
My immediate reaction was one of disgust.
prompt
an inflammation of the eyeball which needs prompt treatment
instantaneous
His allergic reaction to the cat was instantaneous.
direct
He has direct experience of the process.
quick
These investors feel the need to make quick profits.
urgent
on-the-spot
Fare dodgers could face on-the-spot fines.
split-second
2 (adjective)
Definition
(of foods) able to be prepared very quickly and easily
She was stirring instant coffee into two mugs of hot water.
Synonyms
ready-made
fast
convenience
ready-mixed
ready-cooked
precooked
3 (adjective)
Definition
urgent or pressing
Synonyms
urgent
There is an urgent need for food and water.
pressing
There is a pressing need for more funds.
burning
a burning question
imperative
It's imperative to know your rights at such a time.
importunate (formal)
My receptionist shielded me from importunate visitors.