instance

American  

[in-stuhns] / ˈɪn stəns /

noun

instances plural

1. a case or occurrence of anything.

   fresh instances of oppression.

2. an example put forth in proof or illustration.

   to cite a few instances.

3. Also called instanced dungeon.  (in an online multiplayer video game) a zone, as a dungeon, to which access is limited to a player or group of players entering simultaneously and working together: each instance is one copy of the zone in which the quests, enemies, items, events, etc., are staged exclusively for the player or group accessing it, without interference from other player characters in the larger online population of the game server.

4. Law. the institution and prosecution of a case.

5. Archaic. urgency in speech or action.

6. Obsolete. an impelling motive.

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verb (used with object)

instances, present (3rd person singular) instanced, past participle, past instancing present participle

1. to cite as an instance or example.

2. to exemplify by an instance.

3. (in an online multiplayer video game) to design (a zone) as a set of identical copies, staged exclusively for the player or group accessing it, without interference from the larger population of the game server, thereby presenting key narrative elements or achievements in a controlled environment.

   The game developers instanced a winter wonderland with special quests for the holiday event.

verb (used without object)

instances, present (3rd person singular) instanced, past participle, past instancing present participle

1. to cite an instance.

idioms

1. at the instance of, at the urging or suggestion of.

   He applied for the assistantship at the instance of his professor.

2. for instance, as an example; for example.

   If you were to go to Italy, for instance, you would get a different perspective on our culture.

instance British  

/ ˈɪnstəns /

noun

1. a case or particular example

2. for or as an example

3. a specified stage in proceedings; step (in the phrases in the first, second, etc, instance )

4. urgent request or demand (esp in the phrase at the instance of )

5. logic

   1. an expression derived from another by instantiation

   2. See substitution

6. archaic motive or reason

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verb

1. to cite as an example

instance More Idioms  

1. see under for example.

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Synonym Usage

See case ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterinstance
  noun
• uninstanced
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• instances
  plural

Participles

• instancing
  present
• instanced
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• instance
  simple
• instances
  simple
• have instanced
  perfect
• has instanced
  perfect
• am instancing
  progressive
• are instancing
  progressive
• is instancing
  progressive
• have been instancing
  perfect progressive
• has been instancing
  perfect progressive

Past

• instanced
  simple
• had instanced
  perfect
• was instancing
  progressive
• were instancing
  progressive
• had been instancing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will instance
  simple
• will have instanced
  perfect
• will be instancing
  progressive
• will have been instancing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of instance

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English instaunce, from Middle French instance, from Medieval Latin īnstantia “case, example” ( Latin “presence, immediate applicability; earnestness, urgency”); see origin at instant, -ance

Explanation

An instance is a specific example or case of something. One instance of being chased by a growling dog can make a person spend his whole life being afraid of animals. It's common to find instance used in the expression "for instance," meaning "for example." Bright colors — for instance, pink, green, and blue — can cheer you up when you're feeling sad. Instance can also mean "occurrence." Several instances of cheating might be reported after a math test, for example. In the sixteenth century, the Medieval Latin word instantia meant "example to the contrary," leading to an early definition of instance as "single objection."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

instance instances instanced instancing

No surprise, the panel agreed with him and concocted pretexts to kill the treatment—for instance, the staff opined that maybe biopsies had zapped the tumors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

For instance, if you decide you no longer want your device, it wouldn’t be as simple as returning it to Apple for free.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

Canadian YouTuber Lauren Southern, for instance, was an early adopter of pick-me conservatism whose first video, posted when she was 19, was titled “Why I’m not a feminist.”

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

In the case of cancelled flights or accommodation, Bose recommends seeking refunds from your airline, tour operator or accommodation provider in the first instance.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

For instance, if a person had once said “’belled,” that has been changed to “rebelled,” and the word “Massa” appears as “Master.”

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

According to the NCA, such alerts are made to law enforcement "to potential instances of money laundering".

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

In other instances, they were daughters, state officials, or even the spouses of the governors doing the appointing.

From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026

In some instances, the $1,000 would show as pending or on the way, officials noted at the time.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

In some instances, hotels made up for the shortfalls by hiking room rates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

If it is considered practical in these instances, why not for all?

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

As such, players can expect to wait longer than normal to log into game servers, visit new Endwalker specific areas, and experience instanced content-like duties.

From The Verge ● Nov. 30, 2021

The FX we’d used earlier were now composed of millions of these instanced pieces, and she was having a hard time loading them all because it took up so much memory.

From The Verge ● Jan. 30, 2019

World and all the other potential character builds and instanced stories in the offing.

From Time ● Sep. 11, 2012

After a severe indictment of them, Dickens instanced their customs in medicine as a proof of their irremediable depravity.

From The Doctor in History, Literature, Folk-Lore, Etc. by Various

However, except of late, a precedent of this practice can hardly be instanced among the sufferers of Christ in former times, but, on the contrary, many have refused such offers.

From A Hind Let Loose Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods by Shields, Alexander

He proved his wonderful theory by instancing a child playing with its mother, a symphony of Beethoven, and the life of Socrates!

From Aesthetic as Science of Expression and General Linguistic by Croce, Benedetto

Eloquently Barry pleaded his unfitness, instancing his failure as a preacher in his last field.

From The Sky Pilot in No Man's Land by Connor, Ralph

This statement is truer than his later remark21 that fairies and other superhuman creations of fancy are substituted for animals, instancing our theme as such a case.

From The Grateful Dead The History of a Folk Story by Gerould, Gordon Hall

I cannot forbear instancing a few of these, because it may be of some use to those who shall have it in their power to be more cautious for the future.

From The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. - Volume 07 Historical and Political Tracts-Irish by Scott, Temple

Landgraf supports his position by instancing similarities of expression in the Bell.

From The Student's Companion to Latin Authors by Middleton, George

Related Words

• detail
• example
• item
• occasion
• occurrence
• particular
• precedent
• proof
• reason