instantly

1 of 2

adverb

in·​stant·​ly ˈin(t)-stənt-lē How to pronounce instantly (audio)
Synonyms of instantlynext
1
: without the least delay : immediately
2
: with importunity : urgently

instantly

2 of 2

conjunction

: as soon as
… he ran across the grass instantly he perceived his mother …William Thackeray

Examples of instantly in a Sentence

Adverb His voice is instantly recognizable. They instantly fell in love. She was killed instantly when her car hit a tree. Conjunction we realized there would be problems instantly we saw the final report
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adverb
Here are details on crumbly cotija cheeses that instantly elevate savory dishes, and the tough, chewy crumbles to avoid. Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 4 May 2026 From The Mark Hotel to The Carlyle, New York turns into a procession, and the world watches instantly. Alex Badia, Footwear News, 4 May 2026 Although specific town-by-town figures haven’t been released yet, it’s expected that New Britain could get $10 million or more, instantly wiping out more than half of the deficit that educators warned about. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026 Almost nobody does, but those nuggets of knowledge instantly unlock why the stars change with the seasons. Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for instantly

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from instant instant entry 2 + -ly -ly entry 2

Conjunction

derivative of instantly entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Conjunction

1793, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of instantly was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instantly. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

instantly

adverb
in·​stant·​ly
ˈin(t)-stənt-lē
: without delay : immediately
came instantly when I called

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