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instant 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of instantnext
1
as in instantaneous
done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time an instant response to the cry for help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urgent
needing immediate attention an instant need for food supplies in the famine-stricken country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in current
existing or in progress right now we should be more concerned with instant dangers than with those in the far-off future

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

instant

2 of 2

noun

ˈin(t)-stənt How to pronounce instant (audio)
as in minute
a very small space of time it all happened in an instant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 instant
Adjective
The clip was an instant hit, reposted and reacted to and viewed and scraped so many times in addition to its original 7 million views on TikTok that its final reach is almost impossible to calculate. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 Its entire loop revolved around strategic mechanical dismemberment, a concept perfected all the way back in Ninja Gaiden 2, where maiming enemies directly fed into brutal instant finishers. — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
On a recent trip, that habit changed my golf game in an instant. — Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The gloves deliver can an electrical shock strong enough to drop a strong man to his knees in an instant, and proponents say the gloves provide a fast and non-lethal way to subdue a person. — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for instant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instant
  1. instantaneous
  2. urgent
  3. current
  4. minute
  5. immediate
  6. acute
  7. present
  8. second
Adjective
  • During the test, the laser did not appear as a long continuous light but rather an invisible almost instantaneous heat beam that hit precise points on the drone.
    — Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The impression from their new arrival was instantaneous, and helped Everton to a draw that feels worth far more than a solitary point against a middling United side.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of instantaneous
Adjective
  • Though the days of urgent pleas to reduce power use in the hopes of preventing major outages appear to be largely over in California, local utilities still employ public safety power shutoffs.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Nine times out of 10, the story either feels urgent or very personal to the creators.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of urgent
Adjective
  • In the event of an incident, the current system requires a medical team to reach the driver after an incident, make an assessment and then transfer him to the medical center.
    — Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The renovations were initially recommended by the current executive director and former vice president of facilities at the Kennedy Center, Matt Floca.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of current
Noun
  • De La Cruz grew up in the rural town of Las Minas, about a 30-minute drive from the heart of Havana, the Cuban capital.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • City were not exactly under the cosh at the end, but Guardiola spent the final few minutes signalling to his side to go to five at the back, with Fernando dropping in from midfield.
    — Sam Lee, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of minute
Adjective
  • McDermott’s successor, Joe Brady, takes on an immediate Super Bowl mandate for a franchise that’s been so close so often.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • My feeling was that a monologue could seem immediate, more enjoyable and readable than a straightforward play with multiple characters, additional stage directions, etc.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of immediate
Adjective
  • This includes the more serious side effects like bone marrow problems called MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) and a type of blood cancer called AML (acute myeloid leukemia), which may lead to death.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Mayor Ratu Dewa said the thickening smoke posed health risks to children, including acute respiratory infections.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of acute
Adjective
  • Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodik and the Russian ambassador in Serbia, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, were among those present at the funeral.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The Classic itself is also creating a new connection between FAMU’s past and present.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of present
Noun
  • Ole Miss moves into the top 10 for its last-second win against another top-25 opponent in Louisville.
    — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Senior receiver Mikey Matthews made a significant contribution, catching four passes for 88 yards, including a deep ball with 13 seconds left at the end of the first half that allowed UCLA to kick a field goal and take a seven-point lead.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of second

Browse Nearby Words

instancy
instant
instantaneous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instant. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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