instant
gb/ˈɪnstənt/ us/ˈɪnstənt/
A2
Inglés
~ 2800
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
B1
entity
1
A very brief moment
A very small amount of time, like a moment.
Patrón de uso:
in an instant
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse 'instant' with 'moment' without recognizing that 'instant' often suggests suddenness or immediacy.
Sinónimos
moment (A general term for a short period of time; 'instant' is often shorter and more immediate.)
Antónimos
eternity (Refers to an endless amount of time, the opposite of a brief instant.)
Colocaciones
in an instant
|at that instant
|every instant
Temas
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The car disappeared in an instant.
- At that instant, the lights went out.
- She knew in an instant that something was wrong.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He left in an instant.
- The phone rang at that instant.
- I knew in an instant it was you.
adjective
B1
property
2
Happening right away
Happening right now or very quickly.
Patrón de uso:
instant [result/decision/response]
Error frecuente:
Some learners use 'instant' when they mean 'quick' for gradual processes; 'instant' means no waiting at all.
Sinónimos
immediate ('Immediate' is slightly more formal and common in official contexts; 'instant' can be more emphatic.)
Antónimos
delayed (Suggests something happens later than expected, opposite of instant.)
Colocaciones
instant reply
|instant result
|instant success
Temas
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The new software promises instant results.
- He got an instant reply to his message.
- This medicine gives instant relief from pain.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I need an instant answer.
- The soup gives instant warmth.
- She got an instant job offer.
adjective
A2
property
3
Quickly prepared food/drink
Food or drink you can make very fast by adding water or doing little work.
Patrón de uso:
instant [coffee/noodles/soup]
Error frecuente:
Learners may think 'instant' here means 'now', but it refers to preparation time, not serving time only.
Sinónimos
pre-cooked ('Pre-cooked' means already cooked before sale; 'instant' means ready almost immediately with little preparation.)
Antónimos
freshly made (Prepared from fresh ingredients at the time of serving, not instantly prepared.)
Colocaciones
instant coffee
|instant noodles
|instant soup
Temas
food
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Ejemplos
- I only have time for instant coffee in the morning.
- Instant noodles are popular among students.
- We bought some instant soup for camping.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I drink instant coffee every day.
- He eats instant noodles for lunch.
- We had instant soup for dinner.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
instant
AFI
GB/ˈɪnstənt/
US/ˈɪnstənt/
Sílabas y acento
in - stant (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (in)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: instant
Noun
- Base: instant
- Plural: instants
Familia de palabras
Forms
instants
noun
Core family
instantly
adverb B1
Advanced or less common
instantaneous
adjective C1
instantaneously
adverb C1
Expresiones
at that instant
1/ˈæt ðˈæt ˈɪnstənt/
fixed phrase
At that exact moment
At that exact time something happened.
Ejemplos
- At that instant, the phone rang.
- She smiled at that instant.
in an instant
1/ˈɪn ən ˈɪnstənt/
fixed phrase
Very quickly, suddenly
Very fast, in a very short time.
Ejemplos
- The storm ended in an instant.
- He disappeared in an instant.
instant gratification
1/ˈɪnstənt ɡɹˌætəfɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Immediate pleasure or satisfaction
Getting what you want right away without waiting.
Ejemplos
- Online shopping encourages instant gratification.
- Online shopping provides instant gratification, because your purchase arrives with just a few clicks.
- Social media often encourages a desire for instant gratification.
- Social media often gives us instant gratification.
- Many apps are designed to give users instant gratification through quick rewards and notifications.
- Learning a language takes time, so you cannot expect instant gratification.
- Online shopping makes instant gratification easier, because your order arrives with just a few clicks.