nearly instantly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly instantly" is correct and usable in written English.
The phrase implies that something happened very quickly, but not quite instantaneously. For example, "The fire spread nearly instantly across the dry grassland."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

All of this happens nearly instantly.

The New York Times - Tech

I asked her if she had a favorite Martin Gardner puzzle, and she answered nearly instantly.

The New York Times

It had no odor and a delicate composition, dissolving nearly instantly in liquid.

The New Yorker

Most money is not in bills or coins but in bank deposits that can be moved halfway around the world nearly instantly.

The New York Times

Resistance was futile: the BB-8 sold out nearly instantly, transported within seconds to the cybersphere (ie, eBay) after they were grabbed by bounty hunters.

The Guardian - Money

At least half the fun is being able to create limitless versions of your own proofs nearly instantly, at no cost.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

In Rome, I tutored the son of an opera singer; in Porto Ercole, I skippered a powerboat (a job from which I was almost instantly removed after nearly turning the damned thing over).

The Guardian - Books

For a growing swath of the population, the social expectation is that one is nearly always connected and reachable almost instantly via e-mail.

The New York Times - Tech

When VHS emerged victorious from the format wars of the 1970s and early 1980s, Betamax movies became almost instantly difficult to acquire and, soon enough, nearly impossible to view.

The Guardian - Opinion

PocketPak strips, which dissolve almost instantly in the mouth, are a result of nearly six years of research.

The New York Times

Cheltenham nearly levelled instantly but Paul Benson fired wide, one of three good chances he squandered.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly instantly" to emphasize the speed of an event without claiming it was truly instantaneous. This can add nuance and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly instantly" when describing events with a measurable delay. If there's a noticeable pause, consider alternatives like "quickly" or "rapidly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly instantly" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing how an action is performed. It specifies the speed or time frame in which something occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverbial phrase "nearly instantly" effectively conveys the speed of an action or event, indicating it happened very quickly but not quite instantaneously. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in diverse writing contexts. While versatile, it's important to consider nuances with alternatives and avoid overstating instantaneousness. Frequent use in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources reflects its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost instantaneously

Replaces 'nearly' with 'almost' and 'instantly' with 'instantaneously', emphasizing the near-instantaneous nature.

almost immediately

Substitutes 'instantly' with 'immediately', conveying a similar sense of rapid occurrence.

practically instantly

Replaces 'nearly' with 'practically', suggesting the event happened so quickly it's as good as instantaneous.

virtually instantaneously

Uses 'virtually' instead of 'nearly' and 'instantaneously' instead of 'instantly' to convey a near-perfect instant.

in a split second

Uses a more figurative expression to describe the extreme rapidity of the event.

in the blink of an eye

A common idiom expressing how quickly something happens.

almost in no time

Expresses a short amount of time has passed, nearly zero.

just like that

A casual expression for something happening quickly and easily.

in a flash

Another idiomatic way of saying something happened very fast.

almost as soon as

Highlights the minimal delay between the triggering event and the result.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly instantly" to describe actions or processes that happen extremely quickly, but not quite instantaneously. For example, "The website loaded "nearly instantly" after I clicked the link".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "nearly instantly"?

Alternatives to "nearly instantly" include "almost immediately", "practically instantly", or "almost instantaneously". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "almost instantly" instead of "nearly instantly"?

Yes, "almost instantly" is a valid and very similar alternative to "nearly instantly". Both phrases convey the idea of something happening with great speed, close to being instantaneous. Semantically they are very close.

What is the difference between "nearly instantly" and "immediately"?

"Immediately" implies something happens without any delay, while "nearly instantly" suggests a very slight delay. The choice depends on the desired degree of precision. Consider alternatives like "almost immediately" if the delay is negligible.