instantly
adverb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L193026 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈɪnstəntli/
adv
Etymology: Etymology tree English instant Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English instantly From instant + -ly.
- At once; without delay.
“When the neighbours' dog barked, ours instantly replied with a howl.”
“Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.”
- Urgently; with insistence.
“Sir, my lord would instantly speak with you.”
“Theoxena although she were instantly urged thereunto, could never be induced to marry againe.”
- At the same time.
“As if he mastred there a double spirit Of teaching, and of learning instantly”
conj
Etymology: Etymology tree English instant Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English instantly From instant + -ly.
- As soon as, directly.
“I phoned instantly I heard you were back.”