instant message
noun
an electronic message sent in real time via the internet and therefore immediately available for display on the recipient's screen.
instant messages
-
pluralof instant message.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Federal regulations require banks to keep a broad range of communications, including emails, phone recordings and instant messages, which can be used if necessary for compliance investigations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Its blue-and-yellow running-man logo, ubiquitous trial CDs, chat rooms, and instant messages shaped how a generation learned to be online.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2025
According to county policy, employees must sign an agreement every year acknowledging that all electronic communications, such as emails or instant messages, sent on county devices are the property of the county.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2025
Instead, more emails and instant messages were sent.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2024
Even when our avatars were doing other things, we were sending e-mails and instant messages to each other.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
