instantly

1 of 2

adverb

in·stant·ly ˈin(t)-stənt-lē

Synonyms of instantly

: without the least delay : immediately

: with importunity : urgently

instantly

2 of 2

conjunction

: as soon as

… he ran across the grass instantly he perceived his mother …—William Thackeray

Examples 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

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

In addition to her decades of iconic songs, Parton was instantly recognizable for her grand, glitzy outfits and even grander blonde hair. — Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 Formulated with 40% water and light-reflecting pigments, the foundation has a silky, barely there feel and instantly hydrates skin for up to 12 hours. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026 There are no clear trigger thresholds for yields that instantly undercut equities, even if equity investors are watching warily. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 The oversized, slouchy fit is effortlessly cool and will instantly look put together, even when worn with a simple pair of jeans. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for instantly

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from instant instant entry 2 + -ly -ly entry 2

Conjunction

derivative of instantly entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Conjunction

1793, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of instantly was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Instantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instantly. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

instantly

adverb

in·stant·ly

ˈin(t)-stənt-lē

: without delay : immediately

came instantly when I called

instantly

adverb

conjunction

Synonyms of instantly

Examples of instantly in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes