instant

1 of 2

noun

in·​stant ˈin(t)-stənt How to pronounce instant (audio)
1
: an infinitesimal space of time
especially : a point in time separating two states
at the instant of death
2
: the present or current month

instant

2 of 2

adjective

1
: produced or occurring with or as if with extreme rapidity and ease
2
: immediate, direct
the play was an instant success
3
a(1)
: premixed or precooked for easy final preparation
instant pudding
(2)
: appearing in or as if in ready-to-use form
instant poetry
b
: immediately soluble in water
instant coffee
4
a
: present, current
previous felonies not related to the instant crime
b
: of or occurring in the present month
abbreviation inst
5
instantness noun

Examples of instant in a Sentence

Noun For an instant, I forgot where I was. The ride was over in an instant. Adjective The movie was an instant hit. He became an instant celebrity with the publication of his first novel. We got an instant response from the company. The Internet provides instant access to an enormous amount of information. Is this coffee instant or regular?
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The video features his friends and family eating a cup of Korean instant noodles against the backdrop of familiar London sights. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 MoneyLion charges instant transfer fees ranging from $1.99 up to a maximum of $9 depending on the size of the withdrawal, and EarnIn charges between $1.99 and $3.99. Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2024 In an instant, Dexter is reliving all of their kisses, from the end to the beginning, before finishing with their first kiss. Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 In an instant, four of the top players in the league all called Los Angeles their home. Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 Colorado State, in one instant about to change the complexion of the conference stretch run, missed its last 10 shots and hit just one of its final 19. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2024 This project is an allegory of the relationship between instant photography and A.I.: Polaroid images, when they were first invented, were mainly used to capture instant, not reproducible moments. Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2024 The show was an instant hit and ended up winning Outstanding Comedy Series five years in a row from 2010 to 2014. Keith Langston, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2024 Safer himself jumps over the footlights and joins in—turning from watcher to dancer in an instant. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Nonetheless, Johnson is smart, and recognizes how the instant fame can be intoxicating, yet fleeting. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 6 Mar. 2024 Today, South Koreans consume an average of 77 instant noodle servings a year, second only to Vietnam, at 85, and far above the United States, at 15, according to the World Instant Noodle Assn. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Fourteen recalls were issued in 2023 for possibly having salmonella in its cut cantaloupe, rocks in its falafel and cookies and glass in its instant coffee. Ayana Archie, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 If companies can extract this ice, any permanent human presence on the lunar surface will have instant access to water. David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Imports from the South American country are serving Vietnam’s instant coffee industry, said Trinh Duc Minh, head of the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association in Dak Lak province. Dayanne Sousa, Fortune Asia, 2 Mar. 2024 Capable of supporting some fifty passengers, the platform can serve as an instant mobile base, complicating China’s efforts to maintain a blockade. Craig Hooper, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Offering the perfect blend between loose-fitting and structured, this pullover wraps you in instant warmth and even has a front pocket to keep your hands warm and your must-haves close. Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2024 These Watermelon Dew Drops provide an instant glow while hydrating and smoothing your skin with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'instant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "moment, point of time," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin instant-, instans, noun derivative of Late Latin instant-, instans, adjective, "present, current" — more at instant entry 2

Adjective

Middle English, "of the present moment, immediate, urgent," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin instant-, instans "pressing, urgent" (Late Latin also "present, current"), from present participle of instō, instāre "to set foot on, take up a stand, press in a hostile manner, loom, be upon one, be urgent," from in- in- entry 2 + stāre "to stand" — more at stand entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Time Traveler
The first known use of instant was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near instant

Cite this Entry

“Instant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instant. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

instant

1 of 2 noun
in·​stant ˈin(t)-stənt How to pronounce instant (audio)
: a very small space of time : moment

instant

2 of 2 adjective
1
: pressing, urgent
in instant need
2
: happening or done at once
an instant response
3
: partially prepared by the manufacturer to make final preparation easy
instant pudding
especially : made to dissolve quickly in water
instant coffee

Legal Definition

instant

adjective
in·​stant
: being under present consideration
the questions presented in the instant case

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