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instant

ins·tant

UK/ˈɪnstənt/ US/ˈɪnstʌnt/ common
noun (2) adjective (3)

noun

1.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye blink or the heart to beat)

  • “if I had the chance I”
Synonyms
2.

a particular point in time

  • “the moment he arrived the party began”
Synonyms

adjective

1.

occurring with no delay

  • “relief was instantaneous”
  • “instant gratification”
Synonyms
Similar
2.

in or of the present month

  • “your letter of the 10th inst”
Synonyms
Similar
3.

demanding attention

  • “clamant needs”
  • “a crying need”
  • “regarded literary questions as exigent and momentous” H.L.Mencken
  • “insistent hunger”
  • “an instant need”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

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”). Compare Old English instede (“immediately, on the spot, at once”). More at in, stand.

Phrases

  • instant karma
  • instant loss
  • instant loss 2koma
  • instant mami
  • instant mash
  • instant mashed potatoes
  • instant message
  • instant messaging
  • on the instant
  • this instant
  • upon the instant

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.