1
- happening or coming immediately立刻的, 立即的：
the offence justified instant dismissal.
这次违规是立即免职的充分理由。
1.1
- (of food) processed to allow very quick preparation（食品）方便的; 即食的, 速食的; 速溶的：
instant coffee.
速溶咖啡。
1.2
- (of a person) becoming a specified thing immediately or very suddenly（人）立刻（或突然）成为…的：
become an instant millionaire.
一夜之间成为百万富翁。
1.3
- prepared very quickly and with little effort立刻成就的, 一蹴而就的：
we can't promise instant solutions.
我们不能保证马上就能解决。
2
- urgent; pressing紧急的, 紧迫的, 刻不容缓的：
an instant desire to blame others when things go wrong.
出错时责备他人的急切愿望。
3
- postpositive dated (in business letters) of the current month〈旧〉（商业信函用语）本月的：
your letter of the 6th instant.
您本月6日的来函。
4
- archaic of the present moment〈古〉此刻的, 现时的。
1
- a precise moment of time准确时刻：
come here this instant!
立刻过来！
at that instant the sun came out.
太阳在那一时刻探出了头。
2
- a very short space of time; a moment瞬息, 霎时; 瞬间, 片刻：
for an instant the moon disappeared.
有一刹那月亮消失了。
2.1
Instants
trademark lottery tickets that may be scratched or opened to reveal immediately whether a prize has been won〈商标〉（刮开或揭开即知得奖与否的）刮刮乐奖券。
3
- mass noun informal instant coffee〈非正式〉速溶咖啡。
词源
late Middle English （in senses 2, 3, and 4 of the adjective）： via Old French from Latin instant- 'being at hand', from the verb instare, from in- 'in, at' + stare 'to stand'.