in an instant
Without any delay
In an instant means immediately or very quickly—the span of a single moment.
The phrase emphasizes how little time passes between one state and the next: In an instant, everything changed.
It often marks sudden transformation or realization: The car appeared out of nowhere, and in an instant the peaceful afternoon turned chaotic.
- split-secondFraction of a moment
- blinkRapid lid movement
- blink of an eyeExtremely brief duration
- snapSudden sharp sound
- flashBrief burst of light
in a heartbeat · in two shakes · jiffy · twinkling · moment · out of the blue · in no time · at the drop of a hat · spur-of-the-moment · before you know it · all at once · epiphany · nanosecond · millisecond · quick as a flash · quick as lightning · lightning · burst
- Speed Expressionsin a flash, quick as a flash, in no time, lickety-split, lickety split
- instantlysuddenly, immediately, at once, abruptly, in a flash
- suddennesssudden, suddenly, abrupt, abruptly, immediate
in an instantslowly
At reduced speed
over time · at a snail's pace · in the long run · eventually · in due course
in an instanteventually
At a later time
in due time · in time · sooner or later · down the road · at some point
in an instantgradually
In slow stages
incrementally · progressively · by degrees · step by step · imperceptibly