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
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.
Noun
The man turned, stared for an instant at where her voice had come from, then dashed out of sight toward the back of the property. Yukio Mishima, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024 Stafford twisted free of an unblocked defender rushing up the middle, ducked under a second would-be tackler, then scissored his legs like a high-stepping Houdini an instant before finding the star receiver with a seven-yard scoring pass. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
Adjective
He's already played a key role in the team remaining unbeaten, and has been an instant success for the Chiefs. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 This is not to say Gen Z refuses to use instant communication, of course. Zaheer Dodhia, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for instant 

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 21 Nov. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on instant

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