instantaneous

[in-stuh n-tey-nee-uh s]

See more synonyms for instantaneous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

occurring, done, or completed in an instant: an instantaneous response.
existing at or pertaining to a particular instant: the instantaneous position of the rocket.

Origin of instantaneous

From the Medieval Latin word instantāneus, dating back to 1645–55. See instant, -an, -eous

Related formsin·stan·ta·ne·i·ty

[in-stan-tn-ee-i-tee, in-stuh n-tuh-nee-] /ɪnˌstæn tnˈi ɪ ti, ˌɪn stən təˈni-/, in·stan·ta·ne·ous·ness, nounin·stan·ta·ne·ous·ly, adverb

Synonyms

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1. immediate, sudden, abrupt.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for instantaneous

Contemporary Examples

But it is important to understand that this effect is neither large nor instantaneous.
Can Tax Reform Jump-Start the Economy?
Justin Green
October 16, 2012
By the end of 2013, over 70 percent of humanity will have access to instantaneous, low-cost communications and information.
The World Is Getting Better, Argues New Book, ‘Abundance’
Sam Harris
February 21, 2012
I was nearly 11 years old, and I clearly remember my instantaneous reaction: "I LOVE this, and my parents are gonna HATE it!"
I Reported John Lennon's Death
Steve North
December 7, 2010
The whole passage, at once slow and instantaneous, was superbly polite in the haute-Anglo fashion.
Live From Art Basel
Anthony Haden-Guest
June 17, 2010

Historical Examples

No tumult followed this wide and instantaneous emancipation.
The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII)
John Greenleaf Whittier
This brought the doctor's glance to his face, and the result was instantaneous.
The Slave Of The Lamp
Henry Seton Merriman
One that was instantaneous in its effect; of which he wanted very little.
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens
The effect of this challenge was instantaneous and almost ludicrous.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
The love of honour turns to love of money; the conversion is instantaneous.
The Republic
Plato

British Dictionary definitions for instantaneous

instantaneous

adjective

occurring with almost no delay; immediate
happening or completed within a momentinstantaneous death
maths
1. occurring at or associated with a particular instant
2. equal to the limit of the average value of a given variable as the time interval over which the variable is considered approaches zeroinstantaneous velocity

Derived Formsinstantaneously, adverbinstantaneousness or instantaneity (ɪnˌstæntəˈniːɪtɪ), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for instantaneous

adj.

1640s (implied in instantaneously), formed in English from Medieval Latin *instantaneus, from instantem (see instant (n.)) on model of spontaneous. Related: Instantaneousness.

instantaneous

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}instantaneous

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for instantaneous

Contemporary Examples

But it is important to understand that this effect is neither large nor instantaneous.

By the end of 2013, over 70 percent of humanity will have access to instantaneous, low-cost communications and information.

I was nearly 11 years old, and I clearly remember my instantaneous reaction: "I LOVE this, and my parents are gonna HATE it!"

The whole passage, at once slow and instantaneous, was superbly polite in the haute-Anglo fashion.

Historical Examples

No tumult followed this wide and instantaneous emancipation.

This brought the doctor's glance to his face, and the result was instantaneous.

One that was instantaneous in its effect; of which he wanted very little.

The effect of this challenge was instantaneous and almost ludicrous.

The love of honour turns to love of money; the conversion is instantaneous.

instantaneous

Word Origin and History for instantaneous

adj.

Origin of instantaneous