instantaneous Definition
- 1occurring or done in an instant or instantly
- 2happening or existing immediately or without any delay
Using instantaneous: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "instantaneous" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The camera has an instantaneous shutter.
Example
The storm caused instantaneous flooding.
Example
The news spread with instantaneous effect.
Example
The decision was made almost instantaneously.
instantaneous Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with instantaneous
the sudden ignition of a substance due to heat generated by internal chemical reactions
Example
Spontaneous human combustion is a myth, but instantaneous combustion of flammable materials is a real phenomenon.
the velocity of an object at a particular point in time
Example
In physics, instantaneous velocity is calculated as the limit of the average velocity as the time interval approaches zero.
a hypothetical point in a rigid body that has zero velocity at a particular instant in time
Example
The instantaneous center of rotation is used in kinematics to analyze the motion of rigid bodies.
Origins of instantaneous
from Medieval Latin 'instantaneus', from Latin 'instant-' meaning 'being at hand, immediate'
Summary: instantaneous in Brief
The term 'instantaneous' [ˌɪnstənˈteɪniəs] refers to something that happens or exists immediately, without any delay. It can be used to describe physical phenomena like 'instantaneous combustion,' or mathematical concepts like 'instantaneous velocity.' 'Instantaneous' is synonymous with 'immediate' and 'prompt,' and antonymous with 'gradual' and 'delayed.'