adjective
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occurring with almost no delay; immediate
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happening or completed within a moment
instantaneous death
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maths
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occurring at or associated with a particular instant
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equal to the limit of the average value of a given variable as the time interval over which the variable is considered approaches zero
instantaneous velocity
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of instantaneous
From the Medieval Latin word instantāneus, dating back to 1645–55. See instant, -an, -eous
Explanation
Something instantaneous is happening right now, without delay. In today's society, the technology we carry in our pockets means people often expect an instantaneous or immediate response to emails and text messages. Instantaneous comes from the Latin instant- meaning "being at hand." When something is instantaneous, it's right at hand when you need it. You can produce an instantaneous reply to someone or see an instantaneous change happen. If something happens very suddenly, you can describe it as instantaneous.
Vocabulary lists containing instantaneous
A Need for Speed: Synonyms for "Fast"
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"Is Survival Selfish?" Vocabulary from the argument
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Auggie & Me
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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.
Instantaneous mental health support and telehealth have increasingly become a staple of suicide prevention at a time when it is a leading cause of death for Americans.
From Salon • Jul. 10, 2023
Instantaneous reaction releases free energy and moves to a more stable state.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
Instantaneous communication is a real frolic on the beach, isn’t it?
From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2011
Instantaneous communication is the biggest change in my career.
From Forbes • Feb. 16, 2011
Instantaneous photographs would be attempted, and the illustrated weeklies would give the world picturesque, if not accurate, representations of the monster and the localities in which he appeared.
From The New England Magazine, Volume 1, No. 1, January 1886 Bay State Monthly, Volume 4, No. 1, January, 1886 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
