instantly definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

forthwith, immediately, instant, now, right away, directly, pronto, away, first off, instantaneously, right, tout de suite

More Synonyms»

Nearby Entries

instantly - 4 dictionary results

in⋅stant⋅ly

[in-stuh

nt-lee]

–adverb

1.	immediately; at once.

urgently.

–conjunction

3.	as soon as; directly: I recognized her instantly she entered the room.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME; see instant, -ly

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : instantly

Spanish:

instantáneamente, inmediatamente,

German:

augenblicklich,

Japanese:

ただちに

View 30 other languages »

in·stant·ly (ĭn'stənt-lē) Pronunciation Key
adv.

At once.
With insistence; urgently.

conj. Chiefly British
As soon as.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

instantly
adverb
1.	without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening; "he answered immediately"; "found an answer straightaway"; "an official accused of dishonesty should be suspended forthwith"; "Come here now!"
2.	without any delay; "he was killed outright" [syn: instantaneously]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Cite This Source

Instantly

Di*rect"ly\, adv. 1. In a direct manner; in a straight line or course. "To run directly on." --Shak.

Indirectly and directly too Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant. --Shak.

2. In a straightforward way; without anything intervening; not by secondary, but by direct, means.

3. Without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms.

No man hath hitherto been so impious as plainly and directly to condemn prayer. --Hooker.

4. Exactly; just.

Stand you directly in Antonius' way. --Shak.

5. Straightforwardly; honestly.

I have dealt most directly in thy affair. --Shak.

6. Manifestly; openly. [Obs.]

Desdemona is directly in love with him. --Shak.

7. Straightway; next in order; without delay; immediately. "Will she go now to bed?' ?Directly."' --Shak.

8. Immediately after; as soon as.

Directly he stopped, the coffin was removed. --Dickens.

Note: This use of the word is common in England, especially in colloquial speech, but it can hardly be regarded as a well-sanctioned or desirable use.

Directly proportional (Math.), proportional in the order of the terms; increasing or decreasing together, and with a constant ratio; -- opposed to inversely proportional.

Syn: Immediately; forthwith; straightway; instantly; instantaneously; soon; promptly; openly; expressly.

Usage: -- Directly, Immediately, Instantly, Instantaneously. Directly denotes, without any delay or diversion of attention; immediately implies, without any interposition of other occupation; instantly implies, without any intervention of time. Hence, "I will do it directly," means, "I will go straightway about it." "I will do it immediately," means, "I will do it as the very next thing." "I will do it instantly," allows not a particle of delay. Instantaneously, like instantly, marks an interval too small to be appreciable, but commonly relates to physical causes; as, the powder touched by fire instantaneously exploded.

Search another word or see instantly on Thesaurus | Reference | Translate

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Link to Us · Report Ad · Contact Us

Get your FREE Subscription to Dictionary.com Word of the Day