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

And companies like Meta are moving quickly to expand what these devices can do, including identifying people and instantly pulling up information about them, potentially turning ordinary public encounters into data points for the companies that make the glasses. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026

The smooth faux leather gives them a polished look, which can instantly dress up an outfit more than sneakers would. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026

Unlike paper tags, these electronic displays can update instantly. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Bailey should instantly improve the Jets’ defense, which finished with 26 sacks, which was the second fewest in the NFL in 2025. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 27 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