instant
//ˈɪnstənt//
Forms
- Plural
- instants
Definitions
1.A very short period of time; a moment.
- She paused for only an instant, which was just enough time for John to change the subject.
2.A single, usually precise, point in time.
- The instant the alarm went off, he fled the building.
3.A beverage or food which has been pre-processed to reduce preparation time, especially instant coffee.
4.Ellipsis of instant camera.
1.Present; current; extant.
- He received just two disciplinary reports prior to committing the instant offense, one in March 2019 for activating an alarm during a non-emergency situation, and one in May 2019 for failing to provide a urine specimen.
2.Occurring immediately; immediate; present.
- As the body count rose, Tarrant quickly became a hero who had achieved a “new high score,” surpassing the former record holder Seung-Hui Cho of Virginia Tech. Tarrant attained instant cult status in the community.
3.Lasting for a short moment; momentary; short-lived.
4.Very quickly and easily prepared.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4908
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English instant (“infinitely short period of time”), from Old French instant (“assiduous, at hand”, adjective), from Latin īnstāns, īnstantis (“present, pressing, urgent”, literally “standing near”), present active participle of īnstō (“to stand upon, be nearby”), from in- (“after”) + stō (“to stand”).