Instant — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈin(t)-stənt/ in·stant

Meaning & Definition of Instant

Instant (noun)

  1. an infinitesimal space of time; especially, a point in time separating two states
  2. the present or current month

Instant (adjective)

  1. produced or occurring with or as if with extreme rapidity and ease
  2. immediate, direct
  3. premixed or precooked for easy final preparation

Instant (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time

    "an instant response to the cry for help"

    similar: immediate, instantaneous, split-second, straightaway
    related: summary, fast, hit-and-run, prompt, quick, rapid, speedy, swift
    near: dilatory, tardy, slow, sluggish, prolonged, protracted, deferred, delayed

  2. needing immediate attention

    "an instant need for food supplies in the famine-stricken country"

    similar: acute, burning, clamant, compelling, critical, crying, dire, emergent, exigent, imperative, imperious, importunate, necessitous, pressing, urgent
    related: demanding, extreme, immediate, insistent, intense, overriding, crucial, desperate, grave, life-and-death, serious, severe, vital, dangerous, explosive, hazardous, perilous, precarious, unstable
    opposite: noncritical, nonurgent
    near: incidental, low-pressure, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant, nonthreatening, safe, stable

  3. existing or in progress right now

    "we should be more concerned with instant dangers than with those in the far-off future"

    similar: current, extant, immediate, ongoing, present, present-day
    related: contemporary, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, recent, red-hot, space-age, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date, being, breathing, existent, existing, living
    near: coming, future, unborn, completed, concluded, done, ended, finished, over, terminated, through, up, ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, archaic, dated, fusty, musty, noncontemporary, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé, ago, bygone, erstwhile, former, past

Instant (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a very small space of time

    "it all happened in an instant"

    similar: beat, eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, jiff, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink
    related: microsecond, snatch, spurt
    near: eon, age, eternity, forever, infinity, lifetime

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Instant

The most common words with a similar meaning to Instant:

immediate, instantaneous, split-second, straightaway, acute, burning, clamant, compelling, critical, crying, dire, emergent, exigent, imperative, imperious, importunate, necessitous, pressing, urgent, current, extant, ongoing, present, present-day, beat, eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, jiff, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, twinkling

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Instant

Words with the opposite meaning of Instant:

noncritical, nonurgent

Related Words for Instant

summary, fast, hit-and-run, prompt, quick, rapid, speedy, swift, demanding, extreme, insistent, intense, overriding, crucial, desperate, grave, life-and-death, serious, severe, vital, dangerous, explosive, hazardous, perilous, precarious, unstable, contemporary, mod, modern, modernistic

Near Antonyms of Instant

dilatory, tardy, slow, sluggish, prolonged, protracted, deferred, delayed, incidental, low-pressure, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant, nonthreatening, safe, stable, coming, future, unborn, completed, concluded, done, ended, finished, over, terminated, through, up, ancient

Word Forms of Instant

Derived words: instantness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Instant

Middle English, "moment, point of time," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin instant-, instans, noun derivative of Late Latin instant-, instans, adjective, "present, current" instant:2

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Instant

Words & Phrases Containing Instant

instant messaging, instant replay, the instant (that), this instant

Frequently Asked Questions about Instant

What does "Instant" mean?

"Instant" means an infinitesimal space of time; especially, a point in time separating two states. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: an infinitesimal space of time; especially, a point in time separating two states. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Instant"?

Other words for "Instant" include immediate, instantaneous, split-second, straightaway, acute, burning, clamant and compelling. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Instant" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Instant"?

There are 88 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Instant". Common alternatives include immediate, instantaneous, split-second, straightaway, acute, burning, clamant, compelling, critical and crying.

What is the opposite of "Instant"?

Antonyms of "Instant" include noncritical and nonurgent. Near antonyms include dilatory, tardy, slow and sluggish.

How do you use "Instant" in a sentence?

Examples of "Instant" in a sentence: "an instant response to the cry for help"; "an instant need for food supplies in the famine-stricken country"; "we should be more concerned with instant dangers than with those in the far-off future".

Is "Instant" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Instant" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Instant" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Instant" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Instant"?

"Instant" is pronounced /ˈin(t)-stənt/ and divided into syllables as in·stant.