instantly

USAGE SUMMARY

"instantly" is an acceptable word in written English.
You can use it to describe something that happens immediately, without any intervening time. Example: Instantly, her eyes lit up as she opened her birthday present.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Buy vouchers online any time, day or night, and have them delivered to the recipient either instantly by email, or have a gift pack sent in the post.

The Guardian

Yet real life takes over for the instantly likeable Lawn when the cameras and lights go off.

The Guardian - Sport

They would instantly denounce such a government as illegitimate.

The Guardian - Opinion

I put the baby in her cot, where she was instantly lulled to sleep by the sounds of the call to prayer that rang out across the old city, and took my book to the terrace to enjoy the first of what was to be many "little" glasses of wine.

The Guardian - Travel

I'm somewhere near Birmingham, in a location that viewers of BBC1's semi-soap Doctors – set, miraculously, somewhere near Birmingham – will instantly identify as Letherbridge.

The Guardian

"As soon as Altuzarra sent a barely buttoned black-and-white striped one down the runway in New York last September, it instantly felt like the modern-day dress of the season – and one that can easily take you through to dawn".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In its analysis, Moat housing association, which provides social housing across the south-east of England, found that every three-bedroom social home across all 35 areas it operates would become instantly unaffordable for residents receiving full housing benefit if the cap were reduced to £23,000 and that all two-bedroom homes would be unaffordable within six years.

The Guardian

We might have been sharing a hilarious moment, yet instantly the smiles and laughter disappeared and we stood united in our solemnity out of respect for her loss.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Even after 22 years, the scene that greets us on arrival on Capri is instantly familiar.

The Guardian - Travel

They might look harmless enough written down, but when they are said aloud by a presenter during the final episode of an entertainment show, they instantly become a threat.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But the introduction of data-driven policies in 2007, backed by evidence-based probation and easing punishments for parole breaches, instantly proved a success.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "instantly" to emphasize the immediacy of an action or event, creating a sense of urgency or surprise.

Common error

Avoid using "instantly" when describing processes that naturally take time or involve multiple stages. It's more appropriate for actions with near-zero delay.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "instantly" is as an adverb. As an adverb, it modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating the timing or manner of an action. Ludwig shows this usage in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "instantly" is a common adverb used to emphasize that something happens immediately, without any delay. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely accepted. It appears most frequently in News & Media sources and serves to convey a sense of quickness or surprise. While similar words like "immediately" or "at once" can be used as alternatives, "instantly" provides a slightly different nuance, often highlighting the suddenness of an event. When writing, ensure it is used to describe actions that genuinely happen with near-zero delay and not for gradual processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately

A direct synonym, indicating no time passes between events.

instantaneously

Highlights the rapidity and completeness of the action.

at once

Indicates simultaneous action or occurrence.

right away

Implies immediate action, often in response to a request.

straight away

Similar to 'right away', commonly used in British English.

in a flash

Suggests extreme speed and suddenness.

without delay

Emphasizes the lack of any waiting period.

promptly

Implies quickness and efficiency in response.

forthwith

A more formal and somewhat archaic term for immediately.

directly

Indicates that something happens without any intermediaries or intervening steps.

FAQs

How can I use "instantly" in a sentence?

You can use "instantly" to describe actions or events that happen immediately. For example, "The music "instantly" transported me back to my childhood".

What words can I use instead of "instantly"?

Alternatives to "instantly" include "immediately", "at once", or "right away", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say 'I instantly knew' or 'I knew instantly'?

Both phrases are grammatically correct. The placement of "instantly" can slightly alter the emphasis, but both are acceptable. Saying "I "instantly" knew" emphasizes the speed of knowing.

What's the difference between "instantly" and "instantaneously"?

"Instantly" and "instantaneously" are very similar, but "instantaneously" emphasizes the completeness and rapidity of the action. "Instantly" is more commonly used in everyday language.