instant

noun in·stant \ ˈin(t)-stənt \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: instant in a Sentence

Definition of instant

1 : an infinitesimal space of time; especially : a point in time separating two states

at the instant of death

2 : the present or current month

See instant defined for English-language learners

See instant defined for kids

Examples of instant in a Sentence

For an instant, I forgot where I was.
The ride was over in an instant.

Recent Examples of instant from the Web

In an instant, Suárez's disposition was transformed from abject despair to utter jubilation.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 6 Days to Go - Ghana Denied Semi Final Place by Cynical & Clinical Uruguay," 8 June 2018
While the leg-baring silhouette was casual, the sumptuous material and layers of jewels elevated it all in an instant.

— janelle okwodu, Vogue, "Rihanna Goes Pastel Princess on the Streets of New York," 7 June 2018
That's why the first man, dressed in traditional Fulani attire would switch from being a happy musician minding his business, to a murderer in an instant.

— joey akan, CNN, "From Chibok Girls to Yahoo Boys, 'This is Nigeria' video is a mirror for the country," 28 May 2018
When the doctor walked in with the results of our latest scan, the look on her face told me in an instant that something was wrong.

— danielle campoamor, Marie Claire, "I'm Pregnant and I Want My Baby—But I Still Need to Know My Abortion Options," 23 May 2018
In an instant, a bursting artillery shell could turn a robust American soldier into an unidentified mass of flesh and bone.

— ray locker, USA TODAY, "Gripping 'The Unknowns' follows WWI heroes who buried the Unknown Soldier," 21 May 2018
The system could spot a repossession in an instant.

— todd c. frankel, chicagotribune.com, "Riding with the repo man: as auto loan defaults rise, car repossessions skyrocket," 16 May 2018
As a child, Gauss impressed teachers with his ability to add every single number from 1 to 100 in an instant.

— brian resnick, Vox, "How Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss rediscovered a lost dwarf planet," 30 Apr. 2018
In an instant, the hundreds at Comerica Park were rewarded for sitting through another cold day thanks to Machado's addition to his short personal highlight reel.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Dixon Machado, Miguel Cabrera power Detroit Tigers to 6-5 win," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'instant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of instant

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin instant-, instans, from instant-, instans, adjective, instant, from Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

instant Synonyms

instant

adjective

Definition of instant

1 : importunate, urgent

2 a : present, current

previous felonies not related to the instant crime

b : of or occurring in the present month —abbreviation inst

3 : immediate, direct

the play was an instant success

4 a (1) : premixed or precooked for easy final preparation

instant pudding

(2) : appearing in or as if in ready-to-use form

instant poetry

b : immediately soluble in water

instant coffee

5 : produced or occurring with or as if with extreme rapidity and ease

—

instantness

noun

See instant defined for English-language learners

Examples of instant in a Sentence

The movie was an instant hit.
He became an instant celebrity with the publication of his first novel.
We got an instant response from the company.
The Internet provides instant access to an enormous amount of information.
Is this coffee instant or regular?

Recent Examples of instant from the Web

Yew Dell's Fairy Forest has become an instant family classic.

— paul cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "Tomato — the 'luscious beauty' of the garden and how to fight diseases," 8 June 2018
Because the cheesecake pudding is instant, stir it a little more to make sure the mixture is blended well.

— Fox News, "Cooking with Friends: Diamond and Silk's Banana Pudding," 1 June 2018
The outrage would be instant and overwhelming,’’ Fleischer said online.

— washington post, BostonGlobe.com, "Samantha Bee apologizes for obscenity directed at Ivanka Trump," 31 May 2018
Ever since me and Ty met each other, the connection was instant.

— nerisha penrose, Billboard, "Zaytoven Talks Debut Album 'Trap Holizay' & Career-Defining Hit Records," 30 May 2018
Get instant Houston breaking news alerts sent directly to your phone by texting CHRON to 77453.

— william axford, Houston Chronicle, "Woman who claimed a Texas trooper sexually assaulted her could face charges," 25 May 2018
With the release of the body cam footage showing a confrontation between Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown and Milwaukee police in January, reaction on social media was naturally instant.

— jr radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Social media reaction to Sterling Brown footage includes #StandWithSterling hashtag, parallels to NFL," 23 May 2018
The Bloomsbury London's new era of Grand Dame hotel is created in this West London hot spot, already an instant classic due to its beautiful Coral Room cocktail bar.

— cnt editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "Best New Hotels in Europe," 1 May 2018
Reaction to the video on social media was instant and divided.

— ian cummings and joe robertson, kansascity, "Second by second, Overland Park police shooting unfolds on video," 20 Feb. 2018

Origin and Etymology of instant

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin instant-, instans, from present participle of instare to stand upon, urge, from in- + stare to stand — more at stand

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

instant Synonyms

Synonyms

acute, burning, compelling, critical, crying, dire, emergent, exigent, imperative, imperious, importunate, necessitous, pressing, urgent;

Antonyms

noncritical, nonurgent;

Near Antonyms

incidental, low-pressure, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant;

nonthreatening, safe, stable;

crucial, desperate, grave, life-and-death (also life-or-death), serious, severe, vital;

dangerous, explosive, hazardous, perilous, precarious, unstable;

INSTANT Defined for English Language Learners

instant

noun

Definition of instant for English Language Learners

: a very short period of time

instant

adjective

Definition of instant for English Language Learners

: becoming something very quickly
: happening or done without delay
of food : able to be made very quickly : partially prepared by the manufacturer so that final preparation is quick and easy