instante

instant; moment

noun een-STAN-teh Less Common

Origin: From Latin instans, instantis, 'standing upon, urgent'.

Usage Note

Instante implies a very brief, fleeting moment — shorter than momento. The phrase al instante means immediately, and en un instante means in a second. Por instantes means moment by moment, used to describe rapidly changing situations. It can also function as an adjective meaning 'instant' or 'urgent', though this use is uncommon.

Examples

"El dolor desapareció en un instante."

Natural Translation

The pain disappeared in an instant.

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