instantly

1 of 2

adverb

in·​stant·​ly ˈin(t)-stənt-lē How to pronounce instantly (audio)
1
: without the least delay : immediately
2
: with importunity : urgently

instantly

2 of 2

conjunction

: as soon as
he ran across the grass instantly he perceived his motherW. M. Thackeray

Examples of instantly in a Sentence

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
Adverb
The two time displays can be instantly swapped using a special pusher. Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2024 And, besides smelling good, scented candles also instantly elevate your home’s decor. Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2024 Almost instantly, McAlpin raises his arms up and appears to have his legs in either a fighting or a defensive stance. Holly Yan, Melissa Alonso and Caroll Alvarado, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024 Designed to test how safe a car is in a crash, Euro NCAP instantly cut through automakers' safety claims with rigorous independent testing, hard facts, and an easy-to-understand five-star rating system. Carlton Reid, WIRED, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for instantly 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'instantly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from instant instant entry 2 + -ly -ly entry 2

Conjunction

derivative of instantly entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Conjunction

1793, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of instantly was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near instantly

Cite this Entry

“Instantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instantly. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

instantly

adverb
in·​stant·​ly
ˈin(t)-stənt-lē
: without delay : immediately
came instantly when I called

More from Merriam-Webster on instantly

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