instantly

[ in-stuhnt-lee ]

adverb

1. immediately; at once.

   Synonyms: forthwith

2. urgently.

conjunction

1. as soon as; directly:

   I recognized her instantly she entered the room.

instantly

/ ˈɪnstəntlɪ /

adverb

1. immediately; at once
2. archaic.
   urgently or insistently

Word History and Origins

Origin of instantly¹

Late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; instant, -ly

Synonym Study

See immediately.

Example Sentences

Apple’s and Google’s devices enable strong encryption, which instantly afforded more security to users of iPhones and Android systems.

From MIT Technology Review

The system instantly knows which side of the virtual line the ball is on.

From Science News For Students

When students enter UC Berkeley unprepared for college-level math, they aren’t sent to a remedial classroom but to ALEKS, an adaptive tutor that can assess readiness and instantly adapt the curriculum.

From Ozy

Frisch told Bohr, about to board a ship to America, who realized instantly that fission confirmed his belief that an atomic nucleus behaved analogously to a drop of liquid.

From Science News

At those speeds, even an object just a few centimeters long could instantly destroy a satellite, and send even more debris hurtling through space.

From MIT Technology Review

The jet engine instantly brought two advances over propellers: it doubled the speed and it was far more reliable.

From The Daily Beast

But one extra trick would instantly solve the problem of crashes that occur over water.

From The Daily Beast

His mature wit and poetic style drew in those around him and we connected instantly.

From The Daily Beast

More than 1,000 “likes” appeared instantly, as soon as the picture appeared.

From The Daily Beast

The very nature of going “viral” is that it requires the content to be instantly, freely shareable.

From The Daily Beast

One of the simplest of these childish tricks is the invention of an excuse for not instantly obeying a command, as "Come here!"

From Project Gutenberg

To talk German was beyond the sweep of my dizziest ambition, but an Italian runner or porter instantly presented himself.

From Project Gutenberg

A volley did sound, and instantly; but it came from the rocks above, and three of the villains fell.

From Project Gutenberg

Here Badorful rolled over upon his side, and was instantly fast asleep.

From Project Gutenberg

Any exaggeration into which a feeling of indignation happens to betray the accuser is instantly pounced upon.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• directly
• immediately
• instantaneously
• right away