jiff

Tiny time span

A jiff is a very short period of time, synonymous with moment or instant: I'll be back in a jiff.

The word is a shortened form of jiffy, carrying the same meaning but slightly more casual.

Both suggest quickness without specifying an exact duration.

duration

moment

Brief period of time

instantBriefest unit of time
secondUnit smaller than minute
flashBrief burst of light

tick · heartbeat · blink · wink · split-second · twinkling · nanosecond · breath · beat · snap

casual

sec

Slang for moment

moSlang for instant
tickParasitic eight-legged pest
bitSmall amount or portion

minute · shortly · soon · quickly · briefly · momentarily · pronto · straightaway · directly · presently

computing

cycle

Repeating sequence of events

operationProcess of working
tickParasitic eight-legged pest
clockDevice displaying time

pulse · interval · unit · processor · timing · measurement · centisecond · duration · execution · frequency

Opposites

temporal duration

Boundless temporal existence

forever · eon · aeon · age · lifetime

Phrases

in a jiffyAlmost instantly
Jiffy LubeFast vehicle service franchise
jiffy bagCushioned mailer for breakables

Family

jiffy, jiffies, jiffs

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G