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
as in minute
a very small space of time
it all happened in an instant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of instant
Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
An instant shift occurred as the audience was abruptly pulled back to reality.
—Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Eyder Peralta, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025
So, in an instant, Zeek twisted and pushed the barrel aside, but the robber grabbed his shoulder, firing a shot that cracked through the quiet.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instant
Adjective
The Dallas Cowboys were part of an instant classic on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers, trading blows all game before the matchup ultimately went into overtime and ended in a 40-40 tie.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
An instant shift occurred as the audience was abruptly pulled back to reality.
—Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
Mexico built a hydroelectric dam, where these golden barrel cactuses live and in an instant their environment was destroyed and this species was almost wiped out.
—Eyder Peralta, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025
So, in an instant, Zeek twisted and pushed the barrel aside, but the robber grabbed his shoulder, firing a shot that cracked through the quiet.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instant
Adjective
-
With a speedy Intel i3 processor, Chrome OS can shine with effortless multitasking and instantaneous startup.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Latency fell from 50 milliseconds to just 17 milliseconds, nearly instantaneous.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Those lessons are more urgent than ever, as AI takes over tasks but leaves us with the harder, more important work – deciding, judging, being accountable.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Continue reading … DIGITAL DARKNESS – Taliban plunges Afghanistan into darkness as UN issues urgent warning.—
,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
All tuitions listed reflect the most current tuition information for full-time students on each school's website or information sent directly to The Tennessean by the schools.—
Rachel Wegner,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Finally, there’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, whose current role is pivotal as top government spokesperson.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
On festival days, shuttles will begin service approximately 60 minutes prior to the gate opening time.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
29 Sep. 2025
-
In the final minute of regulation, a huge catch and run gave Dallas a 28-yard touchdown and the lead with 43 seconds remaining.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
What Kentucky House Bill 90 does Freestanding birthing centers, which have soared in popularity around the country in recent years, are separate from hospitals, providing a midwifery model of care with a focus on labor, delivery and the immediate postpartum period.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Tribal nations report no immediate significant effects on services like healthcare and education.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The recent exodus represents an acute brain drain.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Concerns and anxieties are particularly acute for researchers with ties to China, the country that has long sent more science and engineering PhD students to the US than any other.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Showing up and being present are two different things.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Pagano noted that this benefit persisted even when external noise was present.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
According to videos, officers waited roughly 20 seconds before detaining people.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The league will rely on its player tracking data, which uses pose data that incorporates 29 data points on a player’s body collected 60 times per second to gather their movements and positioning, to underline the endeavor.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instant. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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