To my amazement, it disappeared in an instant.
Source: tatoeba (18907)
Instant
/ˈɪnstənt/
Synonyms for "instant" (258 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (52)
Strong matches (77)
exactingexigentexistentexistingexorbitantexpeditiousextantextortionatefateful momentfestinatefeverishflashflyingforthcomingfreshfuriousfuturegatheringgoing to happengrasping
Show 40 more words
hair triggerhair-triggerhalf a jiffyhalf a mohalf a secondhalf a shakehastyhigh-pressurehigh-priorityhourhurriedimmanentimmediateimminentimpendentimpendingimperativeimperiousimportunatein danger imminentin prospectin reservein storein the cardsin the offingin the windin viewinsistentinstantaneousintervaljiffjiffyjohnny on the spotjuncturejust around the cornerkairoslast minutelast-minutelatestlightning-like
Adjective(7 words)
Noun(8 words)
Adverb(1 words)
just a moment
Verb(1 words)
keep original time
Related words (129)
littlelittle bitlittle whileloomingloudloweringlurkingmenacingmicrosecondmillisecondminutemodernmomentmoment of truthmomentaneousmomentarynearnear at handnearingnew
Show 77 more words
no timeon the horizonon the spotoverhangingovernightpair of winkspassingperiodpersistentpertinaciouspivotalpointpregnant momentpreparedpreparingpresentpresent daypresent-agepresent-daypresent-timepressingprestopromptpsychological momentpunctualquickquick as lightningquick as thoughtreadyready-madeready-mixedrunningseasonsecsecondshakeshort spellshort timeslap-bangslapdashsmall spacesnapspacespanspeedyspellsplit secondspurtstagestretchstrokesummarysuperficialswifttaxingthat bethat isthat will bethreateningticktimetime lagto cometopicaltricetwinktwinkletwinklingtwitchtwo shakesup-to-dateup-to-the-minuteupcomingurgentwaitingwhilewink
Noun(22 words)
millisecondsminutemomentsnanosecondnew york minutepolaroidpromptrapidsame-day registrationsegundosnatchsplit secondswedish tidswiftthin slicetime adverb termtricetwinklingtwinklingswhens
Determiner(2 words)
most usable methodno span
Adjective(8 words)
prompt answerrapid transitionreversible momentshort momentsingle momentsuddensudden silenceurgent issue
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: jiffy, moment, second, a breath, about to be.
- Sentence evidence is available for instant, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "instant".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "instant"
Keep "instant" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "instant" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "instant", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "instant" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
12 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
7 entriesinstant camerainstant coffeeinstant feedbackinstant messaginginstant noodlesinstant resultsinstant soup
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
5 entriessimilar
3 entriesTranslations
19 translations across 11 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- спешен adj (urgent)
Chinese Mandarin
2 entries- 紧急的 adj (urgent)
- 紧迫的 adj (urgent)
Dutch
2 entries- dringend adj (urgent)
- ogenblikkelijk adj (urgent)
Finnish
2 entries- kiireellinen adj (urgent)
- välitön adj (urgent)
German
1 entries- dringend adj (urgent)
Hungarian
2 entries- sürgető adj (urgent)
- sürgős adj (urgent)
Irish
1 entries- práinneach adj (urgent)
Japanese
3 entries- 急ぎの adj (urgent)
- 火急の adj (urgent)
- 緊急の adj (urgent)
Romanian
1 entries- urgent adj (urgent)
Russian
3 entries- безотлага́тельный adj (urgent)
- настоя́тельный adj (urgent)
- сро́чный adj (urgent)
Turkish
1 entries- acil adj (urgent)
Sample sentences
26 total sentences available.
Fanned by a strong wind, the fire spread in an instant.
Source: tatoeba (19186)
If we don't create an environment that enables instant Internet access, our company will also fall behind.
Source: tatoeba (23535)
The instant I open the lid an offensive smell greets my nose.
Source: tatoeba (28573)
Showing 4 of 26 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "instant"?
Closest matches include jiffy, moment, second, a breath, about to be.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "instant"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.