English Reference
adverb · conjunction

instantly

adv. · conj.
US /ˈɪnstəntɫi/ UK /ˈɪnstəntli/ in·stant·ly

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adv.happening right away, without any delay.

    adv.at once; without any intervening time or delay.

    Simple

    When I saw the beautiful view, I instantly felt much more relaxed.

    In context

    The software is designed to update your profile instantly across all connected devices the moment a change is saved.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Literary

    conj.used to say that one thing happens at the same time as another.

    conj.functioning as a subordinating conjunction meaning 'as soon as' or 'the moment that'.

    Simple

    Instantly he saw her, he knew he had made a mistake.

    In context

    Instantly the signal was given, the soldiers moved forward with a precision that suggested weeks of intensive training.

    Usage

    In this sense, 'instantly' acts as a conjunction to join two clauses.

    the momentas soon as

Scan a QR code, tap a few buttons and the money moves instantly.

BBC News· 16 Aug 2026

A student can simply copy and paste a prompt into a chatbot and receive a polished paragraph, a five-paragraph essay, a lab summary or a reading response almost instantly.

The Conversation· 10 Jul 2026

From instant + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated