instantaneous
Happening right now
Instantaneous means occurring immediately, without any perceptible delay.
An instantaneous reaction happens the moment a trigger is introduced.
In physics, instantaneous describes values at a single point in time: instantaneous velocity, instantaneous acceleration.
In casual use, the word often means extremely fast rather than truly without duration: The response was practically instantaneous.
Incite to action
immediate · hasty · brisk · unhesitating · urgent · express · fleet · nimble
Brief burst of light
- exposureState of being unprotected
- shutterHinged window covering
- cameraImage capturing device
- strobeRapidly pulsing light
freeze-frame · capture · snapshot · high-speed · stop-motion · aperture · timing · trigger
Acting without deliberation
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- offhandCasually unrehearsed
unpremeditated · instinctive · intuitive · reflex · gut · knee-jerk · automatic · involuntary
Sharp and unexpected
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
- shockingCausing intense surprise
- jarringDisturbingly incongruous
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
surprising · unanticipated · unpredictable · whiplash · jolt · bolt · thunderclap
Occurring without processing delay
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
- liveTo exist or dwell
- synchronizationAligning timing across systems
- latencyDelay in system response
data · feed · update · transmission · concurrent · interactive · online · refresh
prompt
Incite to action
speedy · immediate · hasty · brisk · unhesitating · urgent · express · fleet · nimble · snappy
flash
Brief burst of light
strobe · freeze-frame · capture · snapshot · high-speed · stop-motion · aperture · timing · trigger · burst
impulsive
Acting without deliberation
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
offhand · unpremeditated · instinctive · intuitive · reflex · gut · knee-jerk · automatic · involuntary · reactive
abrupt
Sharp and unexpected
unforeseen · surprising · unanticipated · unpredictable · whiplash · jolt · bolt · thunderclap
real-time
Occurring without processing delay
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
- liveTo exist or dwell
- synchronizationAligning timing across systems
latency · data · feed · update · transmission · concurrent · interactive · online · refresh · processing
- time wordsminute, hour, day, now, soon
- instantlysuddenly, immediately, at once, abruptly, in a flash
- verb aspectsperfective, progressive, habitual, stative, continuous
- speedspeed, quickness, rate, velocity, pace
instantaneousprolonged
Made to last longer
protracted · delayed · extended · slow · lengthy
instantaneousgradual
Developing slowly over time
incremental · progressive · step-by-step · phased · piecemeal
- instantaneous reactionResponse occurring without delay