instant
A very short period of time; a moment.
Noun 4 meanings
A very short period of time; a moment.
“She paused for only an instant, which was just enough time for John to change the subject.”
A single, usually precise, point in time.
“The instant the alarm went off, he fled the building.”
A beverage or food which has been pre-processed to reduce preparation time, especially instant coffee.
instant camera
Adjective 4 meanings
Impending; imminent.
Urgent; pressing; acute.
Insistent; persistent.
“January 2, 1827, Thomas Carlyle, letter to Mrs. Carlyle, Scotsbrig I am beginning to be very instant for some sort of occupation.”
Present; current; extant.
Adverb 1 meaning
At once; immediately.
Etymology
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”).
Similar and opposite words
INSTANT at a glance
INSTANT has 7 letters and scores 7 points in Scrabble (I 1 + N 1 + S 1 + T 1 + A 1 + N 1 + T 1) and 9 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #3,947 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with instant
All rhymes- WANT7
- IMPORTANT13
- SIGNIFICANT17
- MEANT7
- PLANT7
- ASSISTANT9
- RESTAURANT10
- GRANT6
- GIANT6
- RELEVANT11
- PREGNANT11
- BRILLIANT11
Keep going
Related lists
Looking for a different word?
Type the letters you have and the Finder shows every word that fits.