instant 1 of 2

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
3

instant

2 of 2

noun

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
Needless to say, the show is recognized as an instant triumph, and Hawke’s Hart can sense he’s being left behind. Kyle McGovern, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 The rumors are true—Jimmy John's is bringing back the Picklewich, which went viral last year and became an instant fan-favorite. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
In an instant, her expression shifted from confusion to regret. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025 Dior’s new soft tote and Loewe’s large Amazona bag felt like instant icons — pieces destined for real-life wear but crafted with couture-level care. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for instant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instant
Adjective
  • Sea-Intelligence modeled the European import surge under different scenarios, ranging from an instantaneous switch back to the Suez by all shipping lines, to a more gradual phase-in over two, four or six weeks.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
  • In this modern age of technology, complete with instantaneous ways to locate talent anywhere in the world, the Duke men’s basketball coach didn’t mine social media endlessly or scour websites in recruiting the player the Charlotte Hornets selected fourth overall in the NBA Draft in June.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This was Liverpool in urgent need of a lift after a series of setbacks and a manager looking elsewhere for solutions rather than backing the club’s long-serving match-winner to deliver.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The shelter was recently 11 dogs over capacity, making his situation increasingly urgent.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Billups was arrested less than nine hours after Portland’s season-opening season-opening loss at home, a game notably attended by the team’s current owner and a financier in the process of buying the franchise.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
  • But current technologies like micro-LEDs hit a limit when pixels shrink below one micrometer.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Copyleaf Wide-leg Yoga Pants Hurry to get 40 percent off a trending pair of Amazon yoga pants that have sold every 15 minutes for the past month.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The 18-year-old rookie also recorded two rebounds and two steals through 31 minutes of action.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Henry's desire for a male heir -- and a new wife who might provide one -- was the immediate catalyst, but other factors were also at play, involving the English crown's seizure of church assets and the growth of Protestant ideas in England.
    Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The proposal called for an immediate cease-fire and hostage exchange, Israeli security guarantees, the demilitarization of Gaza, and a new civilian governing authority.
    Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But the interest in the East Wing demolition had been acute enough that a local-news outlet had identified one of the East Wing dump sites—an industrial park in Hyattsville, Maryland.
    Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The impact is already being felt in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, where UNICEF reports an alarming 11% rise in the number of children with acute malnutrition between January and September this year.
    Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Trump’s former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was one of the first people to publicly condemn the selection of Bad Bunny, going as far as threatening that ICE agents would be present at the Super Bowl next year.
    Zack Sharf, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Oklahoma With the federal government shut down, National Park rangers are not present at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.
    The NPR Network, NPR, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In a large bowl beat butter with a mixer on medium 30 seconds.
    Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Another achievement in the bag The 40-second video shows the Oli humanoids standing opposite each other in a LimX laboratory on a square platform with a yellow strip acting as a separator line between them.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instant. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on instant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!