instantly

1 of 2

adverb

in·​stant·​ly ˈin(t)-stənt-lē 

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 mother …

—William Thackeray

Synonyms of instantly

Adverb

• immediately
• promptly
• now
• directly

Conjunction

• when
• immediately
• once

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 bright neutral instantly makes outfits feel fresh and polished, and theypair i effortlessly with everything from bold colors to classic black tank tops. —Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026

The bright shades of this comfy wedge sandal instantly make simple summer outfits look more fun, and unlike most wedges, these are actually built for walking without that teetering feeling. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2026

To prevent the same outcome, production instantly materializes to separate the women. —Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 25 May 2026

It's billed as more than an e-reader, with full-fat Android 15 on board, as well as a bit of AI functionality sprinkled on top, and the ability to capture ideas instantly. —New Atlas, 25 May 2026

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

Kids Definition

instantly

adverb

in·​stant·​ly

ˈin(t)-stənt-lē

: without delay : immediately

came instantly when I called