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
Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
The lightweight, oil-free cream sinks in effortlessly, instantly soothing skin with a refreshing dose of prebiotic thermal water and barrier-repairing ceramides.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 May 2025
For those who want more spice instantly, muddle the jalapeño slices in the bottom of the wine glass before topping it off.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 May 2025
More Oklahoma City Thunder News: Old Anthony Edwards Comments on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Resurface Ahead of WCF
The 15-time All-Star power forward, now 36, instantly went to three straight NBA Finals with Golden State, winning a pair of championships and Finals MVP for his efforts.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 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
Not that anyone should speculate on people’s race, but this is the modern internet, and unfortunately Arabella Stanton is instantly being put under a microscope for…looking mildly not white?
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
The lightweight, oil-free cream sinks in effortlessly, instantly soothing skin with a refreshing dose of prebiotic thermal water and barrier-repairing ceramides.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 May 2025
For those who want more spice instantly, muddle the jalapeño slices in the bottom of the wine glass before topping it off.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 May 2025
More Oklahoma City Thunder News: Old Anthony Edwards Comments on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Resurface Ahead of WCF
The 15-time All-Star power forward, now 36, instantly went to three straight NBA Finals with Golden State, winning a pair of championships and Finals MVP for his efforts.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 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 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share