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 problem was that, under a microscope, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and other motile bacteria almost instantly swam out of frame. —Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026

Add moisture, and that charge disappears almost instantly, as thin layers of water form and quietly conduct it away. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026

Instead of items spreading out across the sink, everything stays grouped in one intentional zone, which instantly makes the space look tidier. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026

For Caroline, the moment carried a deeper meaning — one her family instantly recognized. —Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 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