instant

Meanings

Noun

• A very short period of time; a moment.
• A single, usually precise, point in time.
• A beverage or food which has been pre-processed to reduce preparation time, especially instant coffee.

Adjective

• Impending; imminent.
• Urgent; pressing; acute.
• Insistent; persistent.
• Present; current; extant.
• Occurring immediately; immediate; present.
• Lasting for a short moment; momentary; short-lived.
• Very quickly and easily prepared.
• Of the current month.

Adverb

• At once; immediately.

Origin

• From Middle English instant ("infinitely short period of time"), from Old French instant ("assiduous, at hand"), from Latin instans ("present, pressing, urgent"), from in + stāre. Compare Old English instede ("immediately, on the spot, at once"). More at in, stand.
• From French instant and Middle English instant, both from Old French, from Latin instans ("standing by, being near, present, also urgent, importunate"), present participle of instō, from in + stō; see state.