instant

Noun · Adjective

Synonyms: blink of an eye flash heartbeat jiffy split second trice twinkling wink New York minute moment minute second

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)“if I had the chance I'd do it in a flash”Synonyms: blink of an eye flash heartbeat jiffy split second trice twinkling wink New York minute
a particular point in time“the moment he arrived the party began”Synonyms: moment minute second

Adjective (3)

occurring with no delay“relief was instantaneous”“instant gratification”Synonyms: instantaneous instant(a)
in or of the present month“your letter of the 10th inst”Synonyms: inst
demanding attention“clamant needs”“a crying need”“regarded literary questions as exigent and momentous — H.L.Mencken”“insistent hunger”“an instant need”Synonyms: clamant crying exigent insistent

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Instant \In"stant\, a. [L. instans, -antis, p. pr. of instare to stand upon, to press upon; pref. in- in, on + stare to stand: cf. F. instant. See Stand.] [1913 Webster]

1.Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest. [1913 Webster]

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.— Rom. xii. 12.[1913 Webster]

I am beginning to be very instant for some sort of occupation.— Carlyle.[1913 Webster]

2.Closely pressing or impending in respect to time; not deferred; immediate; without delay. [1913 Webster]

Impending death is thine, and instant doom.— Prior.[1913 Webster]

3.Present; current. [1913 Webster]

The instant time is always the fittest time.— Fuller.[1913 Webster]

Note: The word in this sense is now used only in dates, to indicate the current month; as, the tenth of July instant. [1913 Webster]

Instant \In"stant\, adv. Instantly. [Poetic] [1913 Webster]

Instant he flew with hospitable haste. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Instant \In"stant\, n. [F. instant, fr. L. instans standing by, being near, present. See Instant, a.] [1913 Webster]

1.A point in time; a moment; a portion of time too short to be estimated; also, any particular moment; as, the situation may change in an instant. [1913 Webster +PJC]

There is scarce an instant between their flourishing and their not being.— Hooker.[1913 Webster]

2.A day of the present or current month; as, the sixth instant; -- an elliptical expression equivalent to the sixth of the month instant, i. e., the current month. See Instant, a., 3.

Syn: Moment; flash; second. [1913 Webster]