# instance

/ˈɪnstəns/ (US) · /ˈɪnstəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/instance
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. an example

noun · CEFR B2 · General-service

a particular example or case of something happening.

For teachers: an individual occurrence or a case offered as an exemplification of a general rule or trend.

- This is just one instance of the problem, but there are many others.
- The report cited several instances where the safety protocols had been ignored by the night shift staff.

### 2. computing/software

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a single copy of a computer program or a database that is currently running.

For teachers: a specific realization of any object in computing, such as a running process, a database, or an object in object-oriented programming.

- You can run more than one instance of the app at the same time.
- The cloud architect recommended launching a separate instance of the database to handle the increased traffic from the marketing campaign.

### 3. decentralised server

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an independent server on a social network like Mastodon.

For teachers: an independent server that runs a specific software protocol within a federated or decentralized network.

- I decided to join a smaller instance of the social network to find people with similar hobbies.
- Users on one instance can still communicate with those on another, provided the servers are federated correctly.

### 4. gaming area

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

a private copy of a game area created just for you or your group.

For teachers: a separate copy of a game environment created for a specific player or party, isolating them from the rest of the game world.

- Our group entered the instance to fight the boss without any other players interfering.
- The developers used instancing to ensure that popular quest locations did not become overcrowded during peak hours.

### 5. to give an example

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

to give something as an example.

For teachers: to cite or mention a particular case as an illustrative example.

- The professor instanced the recent economic crisis to explain his theory.
- The author instances several historical revolutions to support her argument regarding social inequality.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- This is a clear instance of poor communication.
- The manager cited several instances where the software failed to save data correctly during peak hours.
- While the policy change was intended to be universal, there were several instances where local administrators exercised their own discretion based on regional needs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.