English Meaning & Definitions
Happening or coming immediately; without any delay.
- โThe book was an instant success, selling out within hours of its release.โ
- โHe felt an instant connection with the puppy at the shelter.โ
Prepared quickly and easily, usually by adding boiling water.
- โShe survived on instant noodles and coffee during finals week.โ
- โInstant mashed potatoes are a convenient side dish for busy weeknights.โ
A very short period of time; a precise moment.
- โFor an instant, I thought I saw a ghost in the window.โ
- โThe car disappeared from view in an instant.โ
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โinstantโ.
Derived from the Old French 'instant', which comes from the Latin 'instans', the present participle of 'instare' meaning 'to stand upon', 'be present', or 'urge'. The Latin root is composed of 'in-' (upon) and 'stare' (to stand). Historically, it referred to something that was pressing or urgent, eventually evolving to describe something happening in the present moment without delay.
Think of 'in' + 'stand': something standing right in front of you right now.
Frequently Asked Questions About โinstantโ
1. What is the meaning of โinstantโ in English?
In English, instant (adjective) is defined as: โHappening or coming immediately; without any delay.โ.
2. How do you use โinstantโ in a sentence?
โThe book was an instant success, selling out within hours of its release.โ
3. What are English synonyms of โinstantโ?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of โinstantโ?
Derived from the Old French 'instant', which comes from the Latin 'instans', the present participle of 'instare' meaning 'to stand upon', 'be present', or 'urge'. The Latin root is composed of 'in-' (upon) and 'stare' (to stand). Historically, it referred to something that was pressing or urgent, eventually evolving to describe something happening in the present moment without delay.
๐ฌ๐งMore English Words to English
View all English words โA measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.