instantaneous

adjective

in·​stan·​ta·​neous ˌin(t)-stən-ˈtā-nē-əs How to pronounce instantaneous (audio)
-nyəs
1
: done, occurring, or acting without any perceptible duration of time
death was instantaneous
2
: done without any delay being purposely introduced
took instantaneous corrective action
3
: occurring or present at a particular instant
instantaneous velocity
instantaneity
ˌin-ˌstan-tə-ˈnē-ə-tē How to pronounce instantaneous (audio)
ˌin(t)-stən-tə-ˈnē-
noun
instantaneously adverb
instantaneousness noun

Examples of instantaneous in a Sentence

We got an almost instantaneous response from the company. the thunder following the flash of lightning was nearly instantaneous
Recent Examples on the Web In biology, a singularity might happen when an explosion of species stems from a series of changes clustered so tightly together as to appear instantaneous and inseparable on the order of evolutionary time. Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024 Without the need for third-party approval, digital assets can travel directly from sender to receiver on the blockchain, creating an almost instantaneous process compared to traditional methods. Jon Stojan, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024 The process of blocking a phone through the Brazilian government tool is not instantaneous: ABR Telecom forwards the block request within 6 hours, and carriers might take an additional business day to implement it. Angelica Mari, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 La Niña’s timing matters, since the resulting changes in the atmosphere will not be instantaneous, according to Klotzbach. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 18 Feb. 2024 Weight: 2 pounds | Cord Length: 9 feet | Tank Capacity: 216 milliliters | Heat Time: 38 seconds | Run Time: 20 minutes This steamer quickly and efficiently removes wrinkles from various fabrics, and the steam seems almost instantaneous. Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2024 Their chemistry between Sarah, a screenwriter for Lena Dunham’s Girls, and Aaron, a TV and film producer, was instantaneous. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2024 The setup process was almost instantaneous and the display recognizes my face immediately and consistently in testing. Sarah Lord, PCMAG, 5 Feb. 2024 Thanks to the speed, scale and design of our technological and media ecosystems, trash talk — in the form of incivility — has never had a wider or more instantaneous reach. Greg Hanlon, Peoplemag, 21 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'instantaneous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin instantāneus, from instant-, instans "moment, point of time," + Latin -āneus, suffix forming adjectives from temporal adverbs — more at instant entry 1

Note: Regarding the suffix -āneus see the etymology and note at spontaneous.

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of instantaneous was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near instantaneous

Cite this Entry

“Instantaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instantaneous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

instantaneous

adjective
in·​stan·​ta·​neous ˌin(t)-stən-ˈtā-nē-əs How to pronounce instantaneous (audio)
-nyəs
1
: happening in an instant
2
: done without delay
instantaneously adverb
instantaneousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on instantaneous

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