instant

in|stant¹ S3 [ˈınstənt] adj

[Date: 1400-1500; : 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

= ↑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

instant ²

instant² n

1.) [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

= ↑now

▪ Come here this instant!