in·stant·ly
ˈin(t)-stənt-lē 
1
: without the least delay : immediately
2
: with importunity : urgently
: as soon as
he ran across the grass instantly he perceived his mother—
W. M. Thackeray
W. M. ThackeraySynonyms
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 WebMack Degeurin, Popular Science, 25 Apr. 2024
An unknown person fired one shot and hit Ballard in the chest, instantly killing him, according to the FBI.
—Rachel Smith, The Courier-Journal, 24 Apr. 2024
Jones, 27, became the prime suspect almost instantly; his suspicious movements, Google searches and a handwritten note would only deepen those suspicions.
—Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024
In addition to being satisfyingly chewable, nugget ice instantly makes cocktails, fizzy drinks, and even plain water feel more summery and refreshing.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 19 Apr. 2024
The shade also instantly elevates any style of sandal, from flip-flop heels to chunky flats.
—Nuria Luis, Glamour, 19 Apr. 2024
The slight flare instantly signals your unique style, while the dark wash can be dressed up or down in accordance with the occasion.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024
The crowd was instantly united in a kind of lawless exuberance.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Pan’s father was shot in the shoulder and face while her mother was shot in the head three times, killing her instantly.
—Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Adverb
Authorities frantically scoured the North Atlantic Ocean for days only to eventually determine the small vessel had catastrophically imploded, killing its five passengers instantly.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 25 Apr. 2024
An unknown person fired one shot and hit Ballard in the chest, instantly killing him, according to the FBI.
—Rachel Smith, The Courier-Journal, 24 Apr. 2024
Jones, 27, became the prime suspect almost instantly; his suspicious movements, Google searches and a handwritten note would only deepen those suspicions.
—Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024
In addition to being satisfyingly chewable, nugget ice instantly makes cocktails, fizzy drinks, and even plain water feel more summery and refreshing.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 19 Apr. 2024
The shade also instantly elevates any style of sandal, from flip-flop heels to chunky flats.
—Nuria Luis, Glamour, 19 Apr. 2024
The slight flare instantly signals your unique style, while the dark wash can be dressed up or down in accordance with the occasion.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024
The crowd was instantly united in a kind of lawless exuberance.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Pan’s father was shot in the shoulder and face while her mother was shot in the head three times, killing her instantly.
—Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near instantly
Cite this Entry
“Instantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instantly. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
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