In"stant (?), a. [L. instans, -antis, p. pr. of instare to stand upon, to press upon; pref. in- in, on + stare to stand: cf. F. instant. See Stand.]

1. Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest.

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

I am beginning to be very instant for some sort of occupation.

2. Closely pressing or impending in respect to time; not deferred; immediate; without delay.

Impending death is thine, and instant doom.

3. Present; current.

The instant time is always the fittest time.

&fist; The word in this sense is now used only in dates, to indicate the current month; as, the tenth of July instant.

In"stant, adv. Instantly. [Poetic]

Instant he flew with hospitable haste.

In"stant, n. [F. instant, fr. L. instans standing by, being near, present. See Instant, a.]

1. A point in duration; a moment; a portion of time too short to be estimated; also, any particular moment.

There is scarce an instant between their flourishing and their not being.

2. A day of the present or current month; as, the sixth instant; -- an elliptical expression equivalent to the sixth of the month instant, i. e., the current month. See Instant, a., 3.

Syn. -- Moment; flash; second.

• A very short period of time; a moment.
       
• She paused for only an instant, which was just enough time for John to change the subject.
  
• A single, usually precise, point in time.
       
• The instant the alarm went off, he fled the building.
  
• An instant beverage or food, especially instant coffee.
  
• Impending; imminent.
  
• Urgent; pressing; accute.
  
• Occurring immediately; immediate; present.
  
• Lasting for a short moment; momentary; short-lived.
  
• Very quickly and easily prepared (food or drink), for example instant coffee.
  
• (poetic) At once; immediately.