instantaneous
adjective
in·stan·ta·neous
ˌin(t)-stən-ˈtā-nē-əs 
-nyəs
1
: done, occurring, or acting without any perceptible duration of time
death was instantaneous
2
: done without any delay being purposely introduced
took instantaneous corrective action
3
: occurring or present at a particular instant
instantaneous velocity
instantaneousness
noun
Examples of instantaneous in a Sentence
We got an almost instantaneous response from the company.
the thunder following the flash of lightning was nearly instantaneous
Recent Examples on the Web
The oblique shock creates instantaneous pressure, kicking the vehicle forward with significantly more force than just dumping more gas in the barrel behind it.
—
New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
What made the Dončić–Davis trade such a bewildering spectacle, aside from the lack of draft picks Dallas received, was the stunning absence of this preamble, and the instantaneous, universal agreement that the Mavericks had been fleeced.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2025
The effect was almost instantaneous, like turning a key in a lock.
—Sean Williams, Outside, 27 Oct. 2025
Sea-Intelligence modeled the European import surge under different scenarios, ranging from an instantaneous switch back to the Suez by all shipping lines, to a more gradual phase-in over two, four or six weeks.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instantaneous
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New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
What made the Dončić–Davis trade such a bewildering spectacle, aside from the lack of draft picks Dallas received, was the stunning absence of this preamble, and the instantaneous, universal agreement that the Mavericks had been fleeced.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2025
The effect was almost instantaneous, like turning a key in a lock.
—Sean Williams, Outside, 27 Oct. 2025
Sea-Intelligence modeled the European import surge under different scenarios, ranging from an instantaneous switch back to the Suez by all shipping lines, to a more gradual phase-in over two, four or six weeks.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instantaneous
Cite this Entry
“Instantaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instantaneous. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instantaneous
adjective
in·stan·ta·neous
ˌin(t)-stən-ˈtā-nē-əs
-nyəs
1
: happening in an instant
2
: done without delay
instantaneously
adverb
instantaneousness
noun
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