instant

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a very short time, such as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat

   I'll be there in an instant.

2. 2
   noun

   A very short period of time; a moment.

   She paused for only an instant, which was just enough time for John to change the subject.

3. 3
   noun

   A single, usually precise, point in time.

   The instant the alarm went off, he fled the building.

4. 4
   adj

   Impending; imminent.

   Impending death is thine, and instant doom.

5. 5
   adj

   Insistent; persistent.

   Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

6. 6
   adj

   Present; current; extant.

   He received just two disciplinary reports prior to committing the instant offense, one in March 2019 for activating an alarm during a non-emergency situation, and one in May 2019 for failing to provide a urine specimen.

7. 7
   adj

   Occurring immediately; immediate; present.

   I ſee no day to To day, the inſtant Time is alvvayes the fitteſt time.

8. 8
   adj

   Very quickly and easily prepared.

   instant coffee; instant noodles; instant mashed potato; instant photo

Etymology

From Middle English instant (“infinitely short period of time”), from Old French instant (“assiduous, at hand”, adjective), from Latin īnstāns, īnstantis (“present, pressing, urgent”, literally “standing near”), present active participle of īnstō (“to stand upon, be nearby”), from in- (“after”) + stō (“to stand”). Compare Old English instede (“immediately, on the spot, at once”). More at in, stand.