instant
noun/ˈɪnstənt/
/ˈɪnstənt/
- [countable, usually singular] a very short period of time synonym moment
- in an instant I'll be back in an instant.
- for an instant Just for an instant I thought he was going to refuse.
Extra ExamplesTopics Timec1- For a brief instant, I thought she was going to fall.
- He paused for an instant before continuing.
- Her news was too important to be contained for a single instant longer.
- It was all over in an instant.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- fleeting
- given
- …
- hesitate for
- pause for
- at…instant
- for an instant
- in an instant
- …
- [countable, usually singular] a particular point in time
- at that instant At that (very) instant, the door opened.
- the instant (that)… I recognized her the instant (that) (= as soon as) I saw her.
- this instant Come here this instant (= immediately)!
Extra Examples- The next instant she was flying through the air.
- The bomb could go off at any instant.
- At any given instant the distribution of molecular speeds is always constant under the same conditions.
- He took out his keys to lock the door. At that very instant the door flew open and a man ran into the room.
- She woke up the instant before the phone rang.
- (informal) (also instant coffee)[uncountable] coffee that can be made quickly and easily by adding hot water
- Do you want some coffee? Is instant OK?
Word Originlate Middle English: via Old French from Latin instant- ‘being at hand’, from the verb instare, from in- ‘in, at’ + stare ‘to stand’.
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instant