instantly
1 of 2adverb
in·stant·ly ˈin(t)-stənt-lē 
1
: without the least delay : immediately
2
: with importunity : urgently
instantly
2 of 2conjunction
: as soon as
he ran across the grass instantly he perceived his mother
W. M. Thackeray
W. M. Thackeray
Synonyms
Adverb
- bang
- directly
- forthwith
- headlong
- immediately
- incontinently
- instantaneously
- instanter
- now
- PDQ
- plumb
- presently
- promptly
- pronto
- right
- right away
- right now
- right off
- straight off
- straightaway
- straightway
Conjunction
- as soon as
- immediately [chiefly British]
- once
- when
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adverb His voice is instantly recognizable. They instantly fell in love. She was killed instantly when her car hit a tree. Conjunction we realized there would be problems instantly we saw the final report
Recent Examples on the Web Matthew F. Delmont, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Aug. 2022 Dodi Al Fayed are believed to have been killed instantly. Town & Country, 16 Aug. 2022 Two of Kennedy’s crew of 12 were never found; they were presumed killed instantly during the collision. Kerry J. Byrne, Fox News, 2 Aug. 2022 Reynolds was killed instantly, the sheriff’s office said. Bailey Aldridge The Charlotte Observer (tns), al, 31 July 2022 The police officer guarding the clinic, Robert Sanderson, was standing next to the bomb was killed instantly. Jerry Adler, Good Housekeeping, 14 July 2022 Instead, the wheels caught in the mud, flipped the plane, and instantly killed Koga. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 10 July 2022 Beachgoers in Ukraine should watch out for hazardous mines that lie underwater, Ukraine’s national guard warns, after the death of a man who was diving in the Odessa region moments before a device exploded and killed him instantly. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 19 June 2022 The Civic’s driver, Gilberto Alcazar Lopez, and his passenger, Maria Guadalupe Nieves-Lopez, were killed instantly. Gregory Yeestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2022 See More
Adverb
All the people on the pier, aboard the two naval ships, and on a nearby Coast Guard fire barge were killed instantly. Matthew F. Delmont, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Aug. 2022 Dodi Al Fayed are believed to have been killed instantly. Town & Country, 16 Aug. 2022 Two of Kennedy’s crew of 12 were never found; they were presumed killed instantly during the collision. Kerry J. Byrne, Fox News, 2 Aug. 2022 Reynolds was killed instantly, the sheriff’s office said. Bailey Aldridge The Charlotte Observer (tns), al, 31 July 2022 The police officer guarding the clinic, Robert Sanderson, was standing next to the bomb was killed instantly. Jerry Adler, Good Housekeeping, 14 July 2022 Instead, the wheels caught in the mud, flipped the plane, and instantly killed Koga. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 10 July 2022 Beachgoers in Ukraine should watch out for hazardous mines that lie underwater, Ukraine’s national guard warns, after the death of a man who was diving in the Odessa region moments before a device exploded and killed him instantly. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 19 June 2022 The Civic’s driver, Gilberto Alcazar Lopez, and his passenger, Maria Guadalupe Nieves-Lopez, were killed instantly. Gregory Yeestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adverb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Conjunction
1793, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
instantly
adverb
in·stant·ly ˈin-stənt-lē
: without delay : immediately
instantly 1 of 2
adverb
as in immediately
without delay showed leadership by reacting instantly to the crisis Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- immediately
- promptly
- now
- directly
- instantaneously
- quickly
- right
- suddenly
- shortly
- soon
- away
- forthwith
- straightaway
- bang
- at once
- instanter
- incontinently
- straightway
- right now
- right off
- pronto
- presently
- straight off
- right away
- swiftly
- rapidly
- abruptly
- momentarily
- headlong
- off the bat
- quick
- readily
- in no time
- plumb
- freely
- on a dime
- on the spot
- on the double
- speedily
- fast
- unexpectedly
- hastily
- PDQ
- swift
- briskly
- anon
- impulsively
- presto
- posthaste
- fleetly
- apace
- recklessly
- impetuously
- rashly
- full tilt
- punctually
- opportunely
- seasonably
- snappily
- exactly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slowly
- late
- tardily
instantly
2 of 2conjunction
as in when
just at the moment that we realized there would be problems instantly we saw the final report Synonyms & Similar Words
- when
- once
- immediately
- as soon as
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- after
- directly
- since
- prepatent
- on the wrong track
- on the/someone's/something's way out
- on their best behavior
- on thin ice
- on this score
- on tick
- on time
- on tiptoe
- on tiptoes
- on top
- on top of
- on top of one's game
- on top of the world
- on tour
- on tow
- on track
- on trial
- on TV
- on view
- on vinyl
- on waivers
- on welfare
- on what basis
- on work release