adverb
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immediately; at once
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archaic urgently or insistently
Related Words
See immediately.
Etymology
Origin of instantly
Late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; instant, -ly
Explanation
Something happens instantly when there's no pause or delay at all before it occurs. If you fall asleep as soon as your head touches your pillow, you can say you drifted off instantly. If an event is immediate, it happens instantly. Your parents might say they fell in love instantly, the moment they first saw each other, and you may realize instantly on the first day of school that you are going to love your history class. The adverb instantly first meant "persistently," rather than "immediately," though it soon gained this meaning. The Medieval Latin root is instantem, "pressing, urgent," or "standing near."
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.
The 14 copies in London sold out instantly, after some fans got wind of the release and queued up in advance.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
But despite his overnight stardom, hopes were instantly dashed after the tattoo came to light.
From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026
For millions, that familiar catchphrase instantly transports them back to Balamory, the beloved children's TV show in which residents solved everyday problems through friendship and fun in a brightly coloured fictional island community.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
And, crucially, for a stretch, “Euphoria” made HBO feel like a destination again, with episodes that demanded to be seen in real time and dissected instantly before the night was over.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
At one point she’d decided to climb to the ground, but when she saw the view over the edge, she instantly got dizzy and backed away.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
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.
