instantaneous
instantaneous Lexical Profile
instantaneous Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Occurring, done, or completed in an instant, without any perceptible delay.
"Modern fiber-optic networks allow for almost instantaneous communication across continents."
Existing, measured, or functioning at a particular, precise moment in time (especially in physics and mathematics).
"The speedometer displays the vehicle's instantaneous velocity rather than its average speed over the trip."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Instant' and 'instantaneous' both describe things happening without delay, but 'instant' is preferred for pre-prepared products (e.g., 'instant coffee') or immediate states ('an instant success'), whereas 'instantaneous' emphasizes an action occurring in an imperceptibly brief moment of time ('an instantaneous reaction').
• Rhymes for instantaneous
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-17th century from Medieval Latin 'instantaneus', derived from Latin 'instans' ('present, urgent, pressing'), the present participle of 'instare' ('to stand upon, be near at hand').