n.
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin instant-, instans, from present participle of instare to stand upon, urge, from in- + stare to stand ― more at STAND
Date: 15th century
1 : IMPORTUNATE , URGENT
2 a : PRESENT , CURRENT <previous felonies not related to the instant crime> b : of or occurring in the present month ― abbreviation inst
3 : IMMEDIATE , DIRECT <the play was an instant success>
4 a (1) : premixed or precooked for easy final preparation < instant pudding> (2) : appearing in or as if in ready-to-use form < instant poetry> b : immediately soluble in water < instant coffee>
5 : produced or occurring with or as if with extreme rapidity and ease
– in · stant · ness noun