I. in ‧ stant 1 S3 /ˈɪnstənt/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ instance , ↑ instant ; adverb : ↑ instantly , ↑ instantaneously ; adjective : ↑ instant , ↑ instantaneous ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: Latin instans , present participle of instare 'to stand on, be present' , from stare 'to stand' ]
1 . [usually before noun] happening or produced immediately SYN immediate :
an instant success
a system that provides instant access to client information
The women took an instant dislike to one another.
The programme brought an instant response.
2 . [only before noun] instant food, coffee etc is in the form of powder and prepared by adding hot water:
instant coffee
instant soup
II. instant 2 BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ instance , ↑ instant ; adverb : ↑ instantly , ↑ instantaneously ; adjective : ↑ instant , ↑ instantaneous ]
1 . [countable, usually singular] a moment:
She caught his eye for an instant.
When the rain started, the crowd vanished in an instant (=immediately) .
instant of
an instant of panic
She stepped towards the door and, in that very same instant, the doorbell rang.
2 . the instant (that) as soon as something happens:
The instant I saw him, I knew he was the man from the restaurant.
Jen burst out laughing the instant she walked in.
3 . this instant spoken used when telling someone, especially a child, to do something immediately SYN now :
Come here this instant!