instant

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɪnst(ə)nt/

adjective

  • 1happening or coming immediately: the offence justified instant dismissal
  • prepared quickly and with little effort: we can’t promise instant solutions
  • (of food) processed to allow very quick preparation: instant coffee
  • (of a person) becoming a specified thing immediately: become an instant millionaire
  • 2 dated urgent; pressing: an instant desire to blame others when things go wrong
  • 3 [postpositive] dated (in business letters) of the current month: your letter of the 6th instant
  • 4 archaic of the present moment.

noun

  • 1a precise moment of time: come here this instant! at that instant the sun came out
  • 2a very short time; a moment: for an instant the moon disappeared
  • 3 [mass noun] informal instant coffee.

Phrases

on the instant

archaic instantly; immediately: he was thrown into the water, and on the instant the sea grew calm

Origin:

late Middle English (in instant (sense 2 of the adjective), instant (sense 3 of the adjective), instant (sense 4 of the adjective)): via Old French from Latin instant- 'being at hand', from the verb instare, from in- 'in, at' + stare 'to stand'