instances 1 of 2

plural of instance
as in examples
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like this is just one instance of his repeated failure to do what he promised

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

instances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of instance
1
2
3

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instances
Noun
Anthropic says Claude didn't discover any complex vulnerabilities during these instances. James Peckham, PC Magazine, 31 July 2026 Conversations reviewed by police include instances where Sumait sent or received images of naked prepubescent kids with other users. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 The official policy change came after multiple instances in which robot passengers went viral. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026 In most instances, the handbook largely accepts the notion that rogue drones will appear and focuses on how to cope with them afterwards by negating their effects. Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026 Researchers have documented multiple instances of primates forming bonds with different animals, but a recent study indicates these relationships may be even more common than expected. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 July 2026 Excessive drinking has steadily plagued military culture, and in some instances, it has been tolerated or normalized. Steven Beynon, ABC News, 30 July 2026 In some instances, that has already led to permanent population trades. Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 30 July 2026 Ragusa passed a full 44 years without any instances of the plague and shook off outbreaks that decimated the population of other regions. Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instances
Noun
  • They were first popularized in Georgian England as small tokens of affection, infatuation or mourning, and examples are scattered across major museums such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The best treatment is prevention, and vaccination remains one of the clearest examples of that principle in action.
    Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The state cites hiking, jiu-jitsu and ski passes as examples of activities that were receiving public funding under these programs.
    Olivia Young, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Vidal’s lawsuit cites statistics showing that police pursuits and crashes rose sharply under the Adams administration.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Johnson’s letter mentions the possibility of providing caps to some portions of I-77.
    DJ Simmons, Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The sequel webtoon series, THE WITCH OF YERASAH, mentions another main character named Nazar and his connection with the werewolf group.
    Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The problem is, which this case so well illustrates, that to the extent that the debtor has the ability reacquire the assets then potentially so does a creditor.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The report also noted that TikTok Shop’s momentum illustrates a mechanism of migration—Eastern platforms exporting not just formats, but whole infrastructures for commerce and personalization as well as audience capture.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Small Town Girls references two shootings, a reference to the gun violence that’s a staple of American life, now more than ever.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • An environmental services employee notices a hazardous process but doesn't know who has the authority to fix it.
    Paula Ferrada, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Now three seasons in, De Oliveira notices just how much of Cruz she’s taken in.
    Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Instead, the first 100 days are likely to be judged by whether the new president establishes credibility, assembles an effective governing team and demonstrates that campaign promises can evolve into a coherent governing strategy.
    Armando Regil Velasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Sustainable profitability demonstrates that growth is supported by sound economics rather than short-term momentum.
    Amit Jain, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The document also specifies that the tax would apply to any data centers located in space.
    Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The legislation also specifies that implementation depends on legislative funding.
    McKenna Mobley, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instances. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on instances

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!