adj.
- happening immediately.
▸(of food) processed to allow quick preparation.
- dated urgent; pressing.
-
[postpos.]
dated (in business letters) of the current month:
your letter of the 6th instant.
- archaic of the present.
n.
- a precise moment of time.
- a very short time.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: via OFr. from L. instant-, instare ‘be at hand’, from in- ‘in, at’ + stare ‘to stand’.