instance

Noun · Verb

Synonyms: case example illustration representative exemplify illustrate

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

an occurrence of something“it was a case of bad judgment”“another instance occurred yesterday”“but there is always the famous example of the Smiths”Synonyms: case example
an item of information that is typical of a class or group“this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome”“there is an example on page 10”Synonyms: example illustration representative

Verb (1)

clarify by giving an example ofSynonyms: exemplify illustrate

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Instance \In"stance\, n. [F. instance, L. instantia, fr. instans. See Instant.] [1913 Webster]

1.The act or quality of being instant or pressing; urgency; solicitation; application; suggestion; motion. [1913 Webster]

Undertook at her instance to restore them.— Sir W. Scott.[1913 Webster]

2.That which is instant or urgent; motive. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

The instances that second marriage move Are base respects of thrift, but none of love.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

3.Occasion; order of occurrence. [1913 Webster]

These seem as if, in the time of Edward I., they were drawn up into the form of a law, in the first instance.— Sir M. Hale.[1913 Webster]

4.That which offers itself or is offered as an illustrative case; something cited in proof or exemplification; a case occurring; an example; as, we could find no instance of poisoning in the town within the past year. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Most remarkable instances of suffering.— Atterbury.[1913 Webster]

5.A token; a sign; a symptom or indication. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Causes of instance, those which proceed at the solicitation of some party. --Hallifax.

Court of first instance, the court by which a case is first tried.

For instance, by way of example or illustration; for example.

Instance Court (Law), the Court of Admiralty acting within its ordinary jurisdiction, as distinguished from its action as a prize court.

Syn: Example; case. See Example. [1913 Webster]

Instance \In"stance\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Instanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Instancing.] To mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite; as, to instance a fact. --H. Spenser. [1913 Webster]

I shall not instance an abstruse author. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Instance \In"stance\, v. i. To give an example. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

This story doth not only instance in kingdoms, but in families too. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

instance

<programming> An individual object of a certain class. While a class is just the type definition, an actual usage of a class is called "instance". Each instance of a class can have different values for its instance variables, i.e. its state.

(1998-03-06)