Instant Definition

ĭnstənt
noun
A point or very short space of time; moment.
Webster's New World
A particular moment.
Webster's New World
The current month.
Your letter of the 15th instant.
American Heritage
A food or beverage designed for quick preparation.
American Heritage
Antonyms:
adjective
Soon to happen; imminent.
Webster's New World
Without delay; immediate.
To demand instant obedience.
Webster's New World
Designating a food or beverage in readily soluble, concentrated, or precooked form, that can be prepared quickly, as by adding water.
Webster's New World
Urgent; pressing.
Webster's New World
Present; current.
Webster's New World
adverb
At once; instantly.
Webster's New World
(in the) Present (month)
Yours of the 13th (day) instant received.
Webster's New World

(poetic) At once; immediately.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Instant

Noun

Singular:
instant
Plural:
instants

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Instant

  • on the instant
  • the instant

Origin of Instant

  • From Middle English instant (“infinitely short period of time”), from Old French instant (“assiduous, at hand”, adj), from Latin instans, instant- (“present, pressing, urgent”, literally “standing near”), from in + stāre (“to stand”). Compare Old English instede (“immediately, on the spot, at once”). More at in, stand.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Old French and French instant, from Latin instans (“standing by, being near, present, also urgent, importunate”), present participle of instare (“to stand upon, press upon, urge, pursue, insist”), from in (“on, upon”) + stare (“to stand”); see state.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin īnstāns īnstant- present present participle of īnstāre to approach in- on in–2 stāre to stand stā- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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