instant
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in·stant
(ĭn′stənt)n.
1. A period of time so short as to be almost imperceptible. 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.
4.
a. Commercially prepared or processed for quick and easy final preparation: an instant cake mix.
b. Appearing, done, or taking place with great quickness and ease: "She had the gift of instant intimacy" (Sylvia Jukes Morris).
c. Quickly and easily resolved or determined: instant lottery tickets.
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.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
instant
(ˈɪnstənt)n
1. a very brief time; moment
2. a particular moment or point in time: at the same instant.
3. on the instant immediately; without delay
adj
4. immediate; instantaneous
5. (Cookery) (esp of foods) prepared or designed for preparation with very little time and effort: instant coffee.
6. urgent or imperative
adv
a poetic word for instantly
[C15: from Latin instāns, from instāre to be present, press closely, from in-2 + stāre to stand]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
in•stant
(ˈɪn stənt)n.
1. an infinitesimal or very short space of time; moment.
2. the point of time now present: Come here this instant!
3. a particular moment: at the instant of contact.
4. an instant beverage or other product, esp. instant coffee.
adj. 5. succeeding without any interval of time; immediate: instant relief.
6. pressing or urgent: instant need.
7. (of a food or beverage) processed so as to require minimal time and effort to prepare, as just the addition of water: instant coffee.
8. produced, occurring, or appearing rapidly and with little or no preparation or effort: instant answers.
9. designed to act or produce results quickly or immediately: an instant lottery.
10. present; current: the instant case before the court.
11. Archaic. in or of the present month: your letter of the 12th instant. Abbr.: inst.
adv. 12. instantly.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin instant-, s. of instāns, present participle of instāre to be present, urgent =in- in-2 + stāre to stand]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  instant - 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" |
| 2. |  instant - a particular point in time; "the moment he arrived the party began"culmination - the decisive moment in a novel or play; "the deathbed scene is the climax of the play" point in time, point - an instant of time; "at that point I had to leave" eleventh hour, last minute - the latest possible moment; "money became available at the eleventh hour"; "at the last minute the government changed the rules" moment of truth - a crucial moment on which much depends moment of truth - the moment in a bullfight when the matador kills the bull pinpoint - a very brief moment; "they were strangers sharing a pinpoint of time together" time - a suitable moment; "it is time to go" psychological moment - the most appropriate time for achieving a desired effect | |
| Adj. | 1. | instant - occurring with no delay; "relief was instantaneous"; "instant gratification" fast - acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly; "fast film"; "on the fast track in school"; "set a fast pace"; "a fast car" |
| 2. | instant - in or of the present month; "your letter of the 10th inst" present - temporal sense; intermediate between past and future; now existing or happening or in consideration; "the present leader"; "articles for present use"; "the present topic"; "the present system"; "present observations" | |
| 3. | instant - demanding attention; "clamant needs"; "a crying need"; "regarded literary questions as exigent and momentous"- H.L.Mencken; "insistent hunger"; "an instant need" imperative - requiring attention or action; "as nuclear weapons proliferate, preventing war becomes imperative"; "requests that grew more and more imperative" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
instant
noun
1. moment, second, minute, shake (informal), flash, tick (Brit. informal), no time, twinkling, split second, jiffy (informal), trice, twinkling of an eye (informal), two shakes (informal), two shakes of a lamb's tail (informal), bat of an eye (informal) The pain disappeared in an instant.
adjective
1. immediate, prompt, instantaneous, direct, quick, urgent, on-the-spot, split-second He had taken an instant dislike to her.
2. ready-made, fast, convenience, ready-mixed, ready-cooked, precooked He was stirring instant coffee into two mugs of hot water.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
instant
noun1. A very brief time:
Chiefly British: tick.
1. Occurring at once:
Without delay:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
حالي، جاريدَقيقَه، فَترَه قصيرَهسَرِيعٌفَوري، سَريع الذَّوَبانلَحْظَه
okamžikokamžitýinstantnímomentchvíle
øjeblikøjeblikkeligfærdig-minut-
momento
välitönvälittömästihetki
trenutačan
azonnal oldódópillanat
á òeirri stundu; undir einsandartak, andráskyndi-tafarlaus; sem verîur samstundis
インスタントインスタントのその場で決めた今月の切迫した
즉시의
akimirksnisgreitai išverdantisįvykstantis tuoj patmomentassekundė
acumirklisātri pagatavojamsbrīdisinstant coffeemirklis
instant
instantný
instantentakojšentrenutek
ögonblickomedelbar
ทันทีทันใด
lập tức
instant
[ˈɪnstənt]A. ADJ
1. (= immediate) [reply, reaction, success] → instantáneo, inmediato
instant access to sth → acceso m instantáneo or inmediato a algo
he took an instant dislike to Derek → Derek le cayó mal desde el primer momento
sweets give instant energy → los dulces son una fuente instantánea de energía
his book was an instant hit or success → su libro fue un éxito instantáneo or inmediato
instant access to sth → acceso m instantáneo or inmediato a algo
he took an instant dislike to Derek → Derek le cayó mal desde el primer momento
sweets give instant energy → los dulces son una fuente instantánea de energía
his book was an instant hit or success → su libro fue un éxito instantáneo or inmediato
B. N → instante m, momento m
the instant I heard it → en el instante or momento en que lo supe
an instant later she was gone → un instante or momento después se había ido
Jed hesitated for an instant → Jed dudó un instante or un momento
in an instant → en un instante or momento
the next instant → un momento después
put it down this instant! → ¡deja eso ahora mismo!
at that very instant the phone rang → en ese mismo instante or momento sonó el teléfono
the instant I heard it → en el instante or momento en que lo supe
an instant later she was gone → un instante or momento después se había ido
Jed hesitated for an instant → Jed dudó un instante or un momento
in an instant → en un instante or momento
the next instant → un momento después
put it down this instant! → ¡deja eso ahora mismo!
at that very instant the phone rang → en ese mismo instante or momento sonó el teléfono
C. CPD instant access account N → cuenta f de acceso instantáneo or inmediato
instant camera N → cámara f de fotos instantánea, polaroid ® f
instant death N → muerte f instantánea or en el acto
instant gratification N → satisfacción f inmediata
instant replay N (Sport) → repetición f de la jugada
instant camera N → cámara f de fotos instantánea, polaroid ® f
instant death N → muerte f instantánea or en el acto
instant gratification N → satisfacción f inmediata
instant replay N (Sport) → repetición f de la jugada
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
instant
[ˈɪnstənt] n (= moment) → instant m
at that instant → à cet instant
for an instant → pendant un instant, l'espace d'un instant
He hesitated for an instant → Il hésita l'espace d'un instant., Il hésita pendant un instant.
in an instant → en un instant
the instant he/it ...
She called the police the instant he left → Elle appela la police à l'instant où il partit.
She would know the instant he walked in whether it was true → Elle saurait si c'était vrai à l'instant où il entrerait.
at that instant → à cet instant
for an instant → pendant un instant, l'espace d'un instant
He hesitated for an instant → Il hésita l'espace d'un instant., Il hésita pendant un instant.
in an instant → en un instant
the instant he/it ...
She called the police the instant he left → Elle appela la police à l'instant où il partit.
She would know the instant he walked in whether it was true → Elle saurait si c'était vrai à l'instant où il entrerait.
adj
(= immediate) [response, reaction] → immédiat(e); [gratification] → immédiat(e); [death] → instantané(e); [dismissal] → immédiat(e)
It was an instant success → Ça a été un succès immédiat.
The play was an instant hit → La pièce a été un succès immédiat.
to take an instant dislike to sb → prendre tout de suite qn en grippe, avoir immédiatement de l'aversion pour qn
He had taken an instant dislike to Rachel → Il avait tout de suite pris Rachel en grippe. instant access
It was an instant success → Ça a été un succès immédiat.
The play was an instant hit → La pièce a été un succès immédiat.
to take an instant dislike to sb → prendre tout de suite qn en grippe, avoir immédiatement de l'aversion pour qn
He had taken an instant dislike to Rachel → Il avait tout de suite pris Rachel en grippe. instant access
[coffee, food] → instantané(e)
(COMMERCE) the 10th instant → le 10 courantinstant access (BANKING)
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
instant
adj
→ unmittelbar; relief, result, reply, success → sofortig attr, → unmittelbar; sweets give instant energy → Süßigkeiten sind sofortige Energielieferanten; instant photography → Sofortbildfotografie f
(Cook) → Instant-; instant milk → Trockenmilch f; instant food → Schnellgerichte pl; instant mashed potatoes → fertiger Kartoffelbrei
(Jur) in the instant case → im vorliegenden Fall
n → Augenblick m; this (very) instant → sofort, auf der Stelle; I’ll be ready in an instant → ich bin sofort fertig; it was all over in an instant → in einem Augenblick or im Nu (inf) → war alles vorbei; he left the instant he heard the news → er ging sofort, als er die Nachricht hörte; at that very instant … → genau in dem Augenblick …; the next instant, an instant later → im nächsten Augenblick; in the same instant → im gleichen Augenblick
instant
:instant message
n (Internet) → Instant Message f
Instant Messenger®
n (Internet) → Instant Messenger® m
instant replay
n (TV) → Wiederholung f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
instant
[ˈɪnstənt]1. adj
2. n → istante m, attimo
come here this instant → vieni immediatamente or subito qui
in an instant → in un attimo
I came the instant I got the news → sono venuto non appena ho ricevuto la notizia
come here this instant → vieni immediatamente or subito qui
in an instant → in un attimo
I came the instant I got the news → sono venuto non appena ho ricevuto la notizia
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
instant
(ˈinstənt) adjective1. immediate. Anyone disobeying these rules will face instant dismissal; His latest play was an instant success.
2. (of food etc) able to be prepared etc almost immediately. instant coffee/potato.
noun1. a point in time. He climbed into bed and at that instant the telephone rang; He came the instant (that) he heard the news.
2. a moment or very short time. It all happened in an instant; I'll be there in an instant.
ˈinstantly adverb immediately. He went to bed and instantly fell asleep.
this instant straight away; at this very moment. Give it back this instant!
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
instant
→ سَرِيعٌ okamžitý øjeblikkelig sofortig στιγμιαίος instantáneo välitön instantané trenutačan istantaneo 即座の 즉시의 onmiddellijk umiddelbar nagły imediato мгновенный omedelbar ทันทีทันใด anında lập tức 立即的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
instant
n. instante; a. instantáneo-a, inmediato-a; urgente.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012