instant

Definitions

1. A very short period of time; a moment.
2. A single, usually precise, point in time.
3. A beverage or food which has been pre-processed to reduce preparation time, especially instant coffee.
4. Ellipsis of instant camera.
   abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

Equivalents

Examples

“She paused for only an instant, which was just enough time for John to change⟳ the subject.”

“Thy life is long, Eternity is short. So short that, shouldst thou die⟳ and Eternity should pass⟳, and after the passing of Eternity thou shouldst live⟳ again, thou wouldst say⟳: ‘I closed mine eyes but for an instant.’”

“"On receiving the baton, steam was again turned on, and the train⟳ passed on to the bridge... when the train⟳ had got about 200 yards from the cabin [in the signal box], he observed sparks flying from the wheels; and after they had continued about three minutes, there was a sudden bright flash⟳ of light⟳, and in an instant there was total darkness, the tail lamps of the train⟳, the sparks, and flash⟳ of light⟳, all, he said disappearing at the same instant."”

“The instant the alarm went off, he fled the building.”

CEFR level