Words / B2

INST-uh-ntlee/ˈɪnstəntli/

Instantly means at once: flagged instantly; instantly recognisable. Immediately is close (already in the dictionary); instant is the adjective/noun. The portal flagged the duplicate instantly. Slightly stronger/snappier than soon. Do not use instantly for a process that took a week.

Meaning

Immediately; at once.

Examples

• “The portal flagged the duplicate upload instantly.”
• “The motif is instantly recognisable, which is the literature sense.”

Good to know

instantly + verb; instantly recognisable. Close: immediately. Adjective: instant. Tech and description. No delay — not “later that term”.

Near in meaning

immediately

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