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instant

 - 4 dictionary results

in⋅stant

  [in-stuhnt]
Use instant in a Sentence
–noun
1. an infinitesimal or very short space of time; a moment: They arrived not an instant too soon.
2. the point of time now present or present with reference to some action or event.
3. a particular moment: at the instant of contact.
4. a food or beverage, esp. coffee, specially processed for quick preparation.
5. Older Use. the present or current month.
–adjective
6. succeeding without any interval of time; prompt; immediate: instant relief from a headache.
7. pressing or urgent: instant need.
8. noting a food or beverage requiring a minimal amount of time and effort to prepare, as by heating or the addition of milk or water, before being served or used: instant coffee; instant pudding.
9. occurring, done, or prepared with a minimal amount of time and effort; produced rapidly and with little preparation: an instant book; instant answers; instant history.
10. designed to act or produce results quickly or immediately: an instant lottery.
11. Older Use. of the present month: your letter of the 12th instant. Abbreviation: inst. Compare proximo, ultimo.
12. present; current: the instant case before the court.
–adverb
13. instantly.
Origin:
1350–1400; 1910–15; for def. 8; ME < L instant- (s. of instāns) prp. of instāre to be present, urgent, equiv. to in- in- 2 + -stā- stand + -nt- prp. suffix

Synonyms:
1. second, twinkling, flash, jiffy, trice. See minute 1 .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To instant
in·stant   (ĭn'stənt)   
n.  

  1. An almost imperceptible space of time. See Synonyms at moment.

  2. A particular or precise time: at the instant of combustion.

  3. Abbr. inst. The current month: your letter of the 15th instant.

  4. A food or beverage designed for quick preparation.

adj.  

  1. Occurring at once; immediate: instant gratification.

  2. Imperative; urgent: an instant need.

  3. Now under consideration; present.

    1. Commercially prepared or processed for quick and easy final preparation: an instant cake mix.

    2. Readily soluble in water: instant coffee; instant powdered milk.

    3. Appearing, done, or taking place with or as if with maximum quickness and ease: "She had the gift of instant intimacy" (Sylvia Jukes Morris).

adv.  At once; instantly.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin īnstāns, īnstant-, present, present participle of īnstāre, to approach : in-, on; see in-2 + stāre, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
in'stant·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

instant  (n.)
1398, "infinitely short space of time," from O.Fr. instant (adj.) "assiduous, at hand," from M.L. instantem (nom. instans), from L. instantem "present, pressing, urgent," prp. of instare "to urge, to stand near, be present (to urge one's case)," from in- "in" + stare "to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Elliptical use of the O.Fr. adj. as a noun. New Latinate adj. form instantaneous is attested from 1651.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: in·stant
Function: adjective
: being under present consideration instant case>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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