in·stant·ly
ˈin(t)-stənt-lē 
1
: without the least delay : immediately
2
: with importunity : urgently
: as soon as
he ran across the grass instantly he perceived his mother—
W. M. Thackeray
W. M. ThackerayExamples 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
Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
Panthenol soothes the skin and strengthens the moisture barrier, and the lightly bubbling texture is instantly calming.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 21 Apr. 2025
Stroll into fashion veteran Cio Soler’s Sita 1910 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills (opened in 2022) and The Vault by Sita 1910, which opened in December at The Beverly Hills Hotel, and you’re instantly transported to a jewel box of tantalizing treasures.
—Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2025
But Watson recognized her grandson’s belly button instantly amid the bandages.
—Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instantly
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adverb
Uber was appealing because using an app to instantly summon a car is much easier than chasing down a cab.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
Panthenol soothes the skin and strengthens the moisture barrier, and the lightly bubbling texture is instantly calming.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 21 Apr. 2025
Stroll into fashion veteran Cio Soler’s Sita 1910 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills (opened in 2022) and The Vault by Sita 1910, which opened in December at The Beverly Hills Hotel, and you’re instantly transported to a jewel box of tantalizing treasures.
—Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2025
But Watson recognized her grandson’s belly button instantly amid the bandages.
—Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instantly
Cite this Entry
“Instantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instantly. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share