- a particular example or case of something
- instance of somebody/something The report highlights a number of instances of injustice.
- instance of doing something He admitted two instances of taking money from the till.
- instance of somebody/something doing something There have been several instances of that happening.
- in an instance In most instances, there will be no need for further treatment.
- In rare instances, viral infections in the mother may be passed to the unborn child.
- I would normally suggest taking time off work, but in this instance I'm not sure that would do any good.
- instance in which… Students described many instances in which they had felt uncomfortable speaking in class.
- instance where… This is one of the few instances where the director does not succeed.
Synonyms exampleexamplecase ▪ instance ▪ specimen ▪ illustrationThese are all words for a thing or situation that is typical of a particular group or set, and is sometimes used to support an argument.example something such as an object, a fact or a situation that shows, explains or supports what you say; a thing that is typical of or represents a particular group or set:- Can you give me an example of what you mean?
- In some cases people have had to wait several weeks for an appointment.
- The report highlights a number of instances of injustice.
- The aquarium has some interesting specimens of unusual tropical fish.
- The statistics are a clear illustration of the point I am trying to make.
- a(n) example/case/instance/specimen/illustration of something
- in a particular case/instance
- for example/instance
Extra Examples- We have had instances of people who did not feel it was worth reporting a crime.
- There are still countless instances of women being paid less for doing the same work as men.
- Experts cite the country as an instance where human rights violations could lead to international intervention.
- Further information is required to determine the correct answer in any given instance.
- I cannot recall any other instance in modern times in which a huge and mighty state crumbled to dust.
- In one instance, several people had their mobile phones stolen.
- It is not always helpful to draw analogies, but in this instance it is useful.
- North America provides the most striking instance of European settlement on a grand scale.
- There are many documented instances of mass hysteria.
- This instance shows how important it is to check that the machine is working properly before you use it.
- This is a classic instance of Dostoevsky's writing operating on two levels.
- This is an instance of his general attitude to his employees.
- To take a particular instance of this problem:…
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- countless
- innumerable
- many
- …
- give
- provide
- represent
- …
- occur
- show something
- for instance
- in… instance
- instance of
- …
- in the first instance
Word Originlate 16th cent. (in its current sense): from medieval Latin instantia ‘example to the contrary’ (translating Greek enstasis ‘objection’); hence the meaning “single occurrence”.
Idioms
See instance in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee instance in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishfor instance
- for example
- What would you do, for instance, if you found a member of staff stealing?
- Murder, petty theft and tax evasion, for instance, all have different motives and consequences.
Language Bank e.g.e.g.Giving examples- The website has a variety of interactive exercises (e.g. matching games, crosswords and quizzes).
- The website has a variety of interactive exercises, including matching games, crosswords and quizzes.
- Internet technologies, such as wikis, blogs and social networking sites, have changed the way that people find information and interact with it.
- Many websites allow users to contribute information. A good example of this is the ‘wiki’, a type of website that anyone can edit.
- Wikis vary in how open they are. For example, some wikis allow anybody to edit content, while others only allow registered users to do this.
- Wikis vary in how open they are. Some wikis, for example/for instance, allow anybody to edit content, while others only allow registered users to do this.
- More and more people read their news on the internet. To take one example, over 14 million people now read the online version of ‘The Oxford Herald’.
- Online newspapers are now more popular than paper ones. ‘The Oxford Herald’ is a case in point. Its print circulation has fallen in recent years, while its website attracts millions of users every month.
in the first instance
- (formal) as the first part of a series of actions
- In the first instance, notify the police and then contact your insurance company.
- In the first instance, a letter from your employer may be all you need.
Check pronunciation:
instance