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# instant

adjective (instant); noun (an instant, instants)

«instant» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Happening at once, with no wait: «an instant reply». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#m1)
2. (of food or drink) Made very quickly, usually by adding hot water: «instant noodles». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#m2)
3. (noun) A very short moment: «For an instant, nobody moved». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#m3)
4. (the instant) As soon as: «Call me the instant you arrive». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life: instant noodles, instant coffee, instant messaging, an instant camera. In stories «in an instant» or «for an instant» shows something happened very fast or for a moment. Phrases: «in an instant», «at that instant», «the instant (that)», «instant replay». Adverb: instantly.

### Examples

- The magic potion had an instant effect. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#x1)
- We had instant noodles for lunch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#x2)
- In an instant, the lights went out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#x3)
- Come here this instant! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#x4)
- Call me the instant the cake is ready. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#x5)
- The film was an instant success. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#x6)
- For an instant, I thought I saw a ghost. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#x7)
- In an instant he was there. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/#x8)

### Note

«An instant» (vowel sound). Adverb: instantly. Do not confuse with «instance» (an example: «for instance»). «This instant» means right now, often in a strict command.

## In Jewish tradition

It means a moment. In Jeremiah God says that at any moment he may speak of building up or of tearing down a nation.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads Jeremiah as teaching that God's decrees can change if people repent, which is why the prophets called people to return to God.

### Examples

- And at one instant I may speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; (Prophets JER.18.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instant/#x1)
- At one instant I may speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it; (Prophets JER.18.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instant/#x2)
- Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. (Prophets ISA.30.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instant/#x3)

### Note

«An instant» (vowel sound). Adverb: instantly. Do not confuse with «instance» (an example: «for instance»). «This instant» means right now, often in a strict command.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «instant» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instant/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«instant» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/instant.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «instant» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instant/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«instant» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/instant.html) on Mova free.