instantly

1 of 2

adverb

in·​stant·​ly ˈin(t)-stənt-lē How to pronounce instantly (audio)
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 motherW. M. 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
The no-cook meal combines a few of our favorite things—classic protein salads, fresh produce, and a few pickled components—into one treasured tradition that can instantly turn a miserably hot day into a cause for celebration. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 May 2025 From there, the Avalanche absolutely took over, all those pregame nerves that were evident in a tense and quiet post-skate locker room instantly melting away. Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 2 May 2025 Its weightless, almost soufflé-like texture sinks instantly—revealing a natural glow. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 2 May 2025 As someone born and raised in northern California, this perfume oil instantly flooded me with summer memories. Ariel Wodarcyk, Glamour, 2 May 2025 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 12 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

instantly

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

More from Merriam-Webster on instantly

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