Almost instantly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Almost instantly" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that happens very quickly, just short of being immediate. Example: "The lights went out, and almost instantly, the backup generator kicked in." Alternative expressions include "nearly immediately" and "just about at once."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost instantly, she'd redden.

The New Yorker

Almost instantly, there were problems.

The New York Times - Sports

Almost instantly, the room resounded with applause.

The New Yorker

Almost instantly there was a huge downpour.

The New York Times

Almost instantly United doubled their lead.

The Guardian - Sport

Almost instantly, we all felt better.

The Guardian

Almost instantly, the dessert turns into soup.

The New York Times - Food

"Almost instantly, there is another Bronx I.A.B. leak".

The New York Times

Almost instantly, a raft of answers and articles on screen.

Independent

Almost instantly, it became the de facto queer national anthem.

The Guardian - Music

Almost instantly, others pointed out the foolishness of the question.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost instantly", ensure that the context supports the idea of something happening very quickly after another event. It should not be used when referring to events that take a noticeable amount of time.

Common error

Avoid using "almost instantly" when the action takes more than a few seconds. Instead, opt for phrases like "shortly after" or "soon thereafter" to more accurately reflect the timing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost instantly" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs and indicating the speed or timing of an action. As shown by Ludwig, it denotes that something occurs very quickly after another event, but not quite instantaneously.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost instantly" is a correct and usable adverbial phrase that describes something happening very quickly, though not quite immediately, after another event. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources. Alternatives such as "almost immediately" and "nearly instantaneously" can be used depending on the level of formality required. When using "almost instantly", it is important to ensure that the context accurately reflects the timing and that overstatements of immediacy are avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Almost immediately

More formal and direct synonym, emphasizing minimal delay.

Nearly instantaneously

Highlights the speed, suggesting it's close to happening in an instant.

Practically at once

Emphasizes the concurrency, suggesting actions align in time closely.

Just about instantly

Slightly more informal, yet maintains the sense of immediacy.

In short order

Suggests a quick sequence of events leading to a swift resolution.

Right away

Conveys a sense of urgency and promptness in the action.

Without delay

Highlights the lack of waiting time before the action occurs.

Quickly

A simple adverb focusing on the speed of an action.

Rapidly

Emphasizes a high rate of change or action over a brief duration.

Expeditiously

Formal term emphasizing efficiency and speed in execution.

FAQs

How can I use "almost instantly" in a sentence?

Use "almost instantly" to describe events that happen very quickly after something else. For example, "The rain started, and "almost instantly", everyone ran for cover."

What's a more formal alternative to "almost instantly"?

A more formal alternative is "almost immediately". Both indicate a very short time frame, but "almost immediately" may be more suitable for professional or academic writing.

Is there a difference between "almost instantly" and "immediately"?

"Immediately" implies that something happens without any delay, whereas "almost instantly" suggests a very slight delay. For example, it is more emphatic than using "nearly instantaneously".

What can I say instead of "almost instantly" in informal writing?

In informal writing, you could use phrases like "right away" or "pretty quickly" to convey the same idea with a more casual tone.