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| NOUN |
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| /ˈɪnstənt/ |
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| 1 | C usually singular an extremely short period of time , that ends almost immediately 片刻；顷刻；刹那 | It took only an instant for him to react. 他只在刹那间就作出了反应。 | | She paused for an instant and then stepped inside. 她停顿了片刻，然后走了进去。 | | in an instant The earthquake flattened the whole city centre in an instant. 这场地震在片刻之间就把整个市中心夷为平地。 | |
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| 2 | singular an exact point in time 当时；那一刻 | At that exact instant, all the lights went out. 正好在那一刻，所有的灯都熄灭了。 | |
| PHRASES |
| - | the instant (that)
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| immediately after something happens |
| 一…就… |
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| She woke up the instant the phone rang. 电话一响她就醒了。 |
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| - | this instant spoken
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| immediatelyused when giving an order angrily |
| （用于气愤地下命令）立刻，马上 |
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| Pick up that rubbish this instant! 马上把垃圾捡起来！ |
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