a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
"if I had the chance I'd do it in a flash"
A very short period of time; a moment.
"The meeting wrapped up in an instant, leaving us shocked by how quickly everything was resolved."
In plain English: An instant is a very short amount of time that feels like it happens right away.
"The instant coffee dissolved quickly in my hot water."
Usage: Use "instant" as a noun to refer to a specific, fleeting point in time or a split second, often emphasizing immediate action. Do not use it to describe a duration or an extended period, which requires words like "moment" or "while."
Impending; imminent.
"The instant storm clouds began to gather, everyone rushed inside before a drop of rain fell."
In plain English: Instant means something that happens immediately without any delay.
"The instant coffee dissolved quickly in my hot mug."
Usage: Use "instant" as an adjective to describe something that happens immediately or without delay, such as in "an instant decision." Do not use it to mean impending or about to happen, which is the meaning of words like "imminent."
At once; immediately.
"The lights flickered on instantly when I flipped the switch."
In plain English: Instant means happening immediately without any delay.
"The cake was ready in an instant."
Usage: Use "instant" as an adverb to describe actions that happen without any delay or waiting period. Place it directly before the verb it modifies to emphasize immediate timing, such as in "the door opened instant."
The word instant comes from Latin instans, meaning "standing near" or "pressing," which entered Middle English through Old French to describe an infinitely short period of time. Although its root implies someone standing close by, the term eventually came to refer specifically to a moment that happens immediately.