adv · conj · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈɪnstəntli/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH1 N S T AH0 N T L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
At once; without delay.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
When the neighbours' dog barked, ours instantly replied with a howl.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Urgently; with insistence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
At the same time.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
conj
Meaning 4
As soon as, directly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I phoned instantly I heard you were back.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adverb
Meaning 5
without any delay
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he was killed outright
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: instantaneously, outright, in a flash
Antonyms: none provided
6
adverb
Meaning 6
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he answered immediately
found an answer straightaway
an official accused of dishonesty should be suspended forthwith
Come here now!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: immediately, straightaway, straight off, directly, now, right away, at once, forthwith, like a shot
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English instant Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English instantly From instant + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.