instant

American  

[in-stuhnt] / ˈɪn stənt /

noun

1. an infinitesimal or very short space of time; a moment.

   They arrived not an instant too soon.

   Synonyms:

   trice, jiffy, flash, twinkling, second

2. the point of time now present or present with reference to some action or event.

3. a particular moment.

   at the instant of contact.

4. a food or beverage, especially coffee, specially processed for quick preparation.

5. Older Use. the present or current month.

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adjective

1. succeeding without any interval of time; prompt; immediate.

   instant relief from a headache.

2. pressing or urgent.

   instant need.

3. noting a food or beverage requiring a minimal amount of time and effort to prepare, as by heating or the addition of milk or water, before being served or used.

   instant coffee; instant pudding.

4. occurring, done, or prepared with a minimal amount of time and effort; produced rapidly and with little preparation.

   an instant book; instant answers; instant history.

5. designed to act or produce results quickly or immediately.

   an instant lottery.

6. Older Use. of the present month: inst.

   your letter of the 12th instant.

7. present; current.

   the instant case before the court.

adverb

1. instantly.

instant British  

/ ˈɪnstənt /

noun

1. a very brief time; moment

2. a particular moment or point in time

   at the same instant

3. immediately; without delay

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adjective

1. immediate; instantaneous

2. (esp of foods) prepared or designed for preparation with very little time and effort

   instant coffee

3. urgent or imperative

4. (postpositive)

   1.  inst.  of the present month Compare proximo ultimo

      a letter of the 7th instant

   2. currently under consideration

adverb

1. a poetic word for instantly

Related Words

See minute ¹.

Etymology

Origin of instant

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin instant- (stem of instāns ), present participle of instāre “to be present, urgent,” equivalent to in- in- ² + -stā- stand + -nt- present participle suffix

Explanation

An instant is a very short time. In combinations like instant coffee and instant replay it means available right away without a wait. Instant and moment mean the same thing if you are talking about a particular time in the past like you remember the instant or moment you realized that you had won the lottery. However, the two words are very different when talking about time in the future. "I'll be there in an instant" means you're coming as quickly as possible, whereas if you say "I'll be there in a moment," someone is going to have to wait a bit for you.

Example Sentences

There was an instant attraction between the two, and Longet relocated to Aspen, Colo., and ultimately moved into the pro skier’s ritzy Starwood chalet around 1975.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

Toothpaste, oats and instant coffee have all suffered the same fate.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

Freshly brewed coffee made from whole beans may contain very different caffeine levels compared to instant coffee, and preparation methods can also affect cholesterol levels.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2026

Another photo showed a grinning Kim sitting with Ju Ae at a table in the ship's mess hall, surrounded by uniformed marines eating instant rice meals.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

Luckily, I’d glimpsed a space between two of them before darkness descended, and I groped my way to it while Yao seemed to fall into instant slumber.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo