instantaneous
adjective
in·stan·ta·neous
ˌin(t)-stən-ˈtā-nē-əs 
-nyəs
1
: done, occurring, or acting without any perceptible duration of time
death was instantaneous
2
: done without any delay being purposely introduced
took instantaneous corrective action
3
: occurring or present at a particular instant
instantaneous velocity
instantaneousness
noun
Examples of instantaneous in a Sentence
We got an almost instantaneous response from the company.
the thunder following the flash of lightning was nearly instantaneous
Recent Examples on the Web
Access to the classical studies is now instantaneous; literature, science, art, philosophy, mathematics, and history, humanity’s entire corpus of information, is available in the comfort of your home.
—
Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
The model offers up a movement that plays host to both an instantaneous jumping hour and a passing chime.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2026
How could gravitation not be instantaneous between any two objects that would attract; how can this interaction only propagate at a finite speed that was equal to the speed of light?
—Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
Musicians broadly have faced mechanical and digital competition for well over a century, first from the phonograph, then the radio, and later the instantaneous on-demand technologies that emerged with the internet and Spotify.
—Adam Ozimek, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instantaneous
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Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
The model offers up a movement that plays host to both an instantaneous jumping hour and a passing chime.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2026
How could gravitation not be instantaneous between any two objects that would attract; how can this interaction only propagate at a finite speed that was equal to the speed of light?
—Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
Musicians broadly have faced mechanical and digital competition for well over a century, first from the phonograph, then the radio, and later the instantaneous on-demand technologies that emerged with the internet and Spotify.
—Adam Ozimek, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instantaneous
Cite this Entry
“Instantaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instantaneous. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instantaneous
adjective
in·stan·ta·neous
ˌin(t)-stən-ˈtā-nē-əs
-nyəs
1
: happening in an instant
2
: done without delay
instantaneously
adverb
instantaneousness
noun
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