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general::
noun short period of time ADJ. brief, fleeting For a brief instant, I thought she was going to fall. | one, single His news was too important to be contained for a single instant longer. VERB + INSTANT pause for He paused for an instant before continuing. PREP. for an ~ Just for an instant I thought he was going to refuse. | in an ~ It was all over in an instant. | ~ after/before She woke up in the instant before the phone rang. single point in time ADJ. (any) given, (any) one At any given instant the distribution of molecular speeds is always constant under the same conditions. | very He took out his keys to lock the door. At that very instant the door flew open and a man ran into the room. PREP. at … ~ The bomb could go off at any instant., adj. VERBS be ADV. almost His response was almost instant.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary