instant 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of instantnext
1
as in instantaneous
done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time an instant response to the cry for help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urgent
needing immediate attention an instant need for food supplies in the famine-stricken country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in current
existing or in progress right now we should be more concerned with instant dangers than with those in the far-off future

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

instant

2 of 2

noun

ˈin(t)-stənt How to pronounce instant (audio)
as in minute
a very small space of time it all happened in an instant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of instant
Adjective
Oh, just another 156 yards and three touchdowns receiving to mandate instant staff changes at Colorado State. — Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 This bold move would add instant credibility again and immediate buzz to the program while energizing the fans. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
If there was any rust on the outfit from nine years of inactivity, it was knocked off the instant the song’s trademark chiming riff gave way to the thwack of Lynch’s snare drum, bringing the band to life. — Adam Gold, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026 Fig, Blue Cheese, and Honey Scones These ultra-buttery scones were an instant hit with our tasters. — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for instant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instant
  1. instantaneous
  2. urgent
  3. current
  4. minute
  5. immediate
  6. acute
  7. present
  8. second
Adjective
  • And in the interior of a cell, decoherence should be basically instantaneous — quantumness shouldn’t survive long enough in such an environment to have any bearing on biology.
    — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The standard 80% of financial advice—such as whether to invest or pay off debt, how much money to set aside for emergencies or if a purchase will interfere with a savings goal—becomes instantaneous, free and accessible to anybody with a smartphone.
    — Antoine Sallis, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of instantaneous
Adjective
  • Her songs feel urgent and unfiltered; Rodrigo sings about the negative sides of herself, too, whether that’s feelings of jealousy or obsession.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Torres recommends establishing a coverage plan ahead of cold and flu season, so employees know who will take their shift or handle urgent work.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of urgent
Adjective
  • That costs additional money—both London teams this past week set up headquarters for fans, with current and former players participating in events throughout the lead-up to the game—and also provides some additional income.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Swift appears as a spectral figure trying to warn Johnson that, based on her own experience, her rich husband has more sinister intentions than his current bride imagines.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of current
Noun
  • Westport proper is a 10-or-so-minute drive away for shopping and strolling.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Both in jeans and black blazers, Ellison and Kreiz fielded questions from the national press for nearly 30 minutes on the lot’s Stage 3.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of minute
Adjective
  • The immediate focus is on joint development, testing, and demonstration.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Bystander videos and photos posted by on social media showed a man sitting on the ground with his hands behind his back, in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
    — Philip Marcelo, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of immediate
Adjective
  • In some parts of Africa, the obstacles to foreign investment are more acute.
    — Jared Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026
  • For instance, a patient might be admitted for diverticulitis (primary diagnosis), but found on post-op labs to have acute blood-loss anemia (secondary diagnosis).
    — Leah Pierson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of acute
Adjective
  • In present day, back on the planet decimated by the Manhunters, John interrogates Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) and learns that Noah freed the villain from prison.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • That’s very much present in both our opening and closing night selections, but also across the whole program.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of present
Noun
  • Jurors repeatedly reviewed surveillance video capturing the hours, minutes and seconds leading to the shooting before ultimately deadlocking on the homicide charges.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The ancient Egyptian city will experience an extraordinary 6 minutes 23 seconds of totality, close to the longest possible anywhere on Earth that day.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of second

Browse Nearby Words

instancy
instant
instantaneous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instant. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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