instant

Meaning

Noun

1. A very short period of time; a moment.
2. A single, usually precise, point in time.
3. A beverage or food which has been pre-processed to reduce preparation time, especially instant coffee.
4. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of instant camera.

Adj

1. (dated, not-comparable) Impending; imminent.
2. (dated, not-comparable) Urgent; pressing; acute.
3. (dated, not-comparable) Insistent; persistent.
4. (not-comparable) Present; current; extant.
5. (not-comparable) Occurring immediately; immediate; present.
6. (not-comparable) Lasting for a short moment; momentary; short-lived.
7. (not-comparable) Very quickly and easily prepared.
8. (dated, not-comparable) Of the current month.

Adv

At once; immediately.

Verb

To urge, press (smeone); to insist on, demand (something).

Synonyms

moment

second

2nd

immediate

minute

instantaneous

time

⌚

jiffy

twinkling

jiff

trice

while

urgent

‼️

wink

😉

direct

prompt

flash

blink

epoch

split second

exigent

pressing

short while

heartbeat

💓

inst.

New York minute

inst

day

bit

blink of an eye

clamant

crying

date

📅

hour

insistent

juncture

outright

point

present

one moment

independent

occasion

at once

period

piece

direct-acting

prefabricated

age

imminent

immediateness

promptly

Translations

instant

moment

Augenblick

Moment

moment

ogenblik

istante

momento

instante

momento

instante

στιγμή

instantané

oogwenk

momento

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɪnstənt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: instant

Cognate with Old English: instede

In summary

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.