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Instant vs Circumstance - What's the difference?

instant | circumstance |

As nouns the difference between instant and circumstance

is that instant is a very short period of time; a moment while circumstance is that which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things.

As an adjective instant

is (dated) impending; imminent.

As an adverb instant

is (poetic) at once; immediately.

As a verb circumstance is

to place in a particular situation, especially with regard to money or other resources.

instant

English

Alternative forms

* instaunt (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) . More at (l), (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • A very short period of time; a moment.
  • * She paused for only an instant , which was just enough time for John to change the subject.
  • A single, usually precise, point in time.
  • * The instant the alarm went off, he fled the building.
  • An instant beverage or food, especially instant coffee.
  • A day of the current month (abbreviated as : )
  • * In response to your letter of the twenty-first instant...

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) and (etyl) instant, from (etyl) ; see state.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (dated) Impending; imminent.
  • * Prior
    • Impending death is thine, and instant doom.
  • (dated) Urgent; pressing; acute.
  • * Bible, Rom. xii. 12
    • Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
  • * Carlyle
    • I am beginning to be very instant for some sort of occupation.
  • Occurring immediately; immediate; present.
  • * Fuller
    • The instant time is always the fittest time.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
    • , title= , chapter=2 citation , passage=No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.}}
  • Lasting for a short moment; momentary; short-lived.
  • Very quickly and easily prepared.
    • instant coffee
  • Of the current month (abbreviation inst.).
  • * “I refer to your letter of the 16th inst. in regard to traffic disruption”
    • Derived terms
    * instantize, instantise * instantly * instant replay
    Related terms
    * instakill * instance

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (poetic) At once; immediately.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I.182:
    • He left the room for his relinquished sword, / And Julia instant to the closet flew.

    Related terms

    * inst * instance * instancy * instantaneous * instantaneously * instanter * instantial * instantiate * instantly

    Statistics

    * ----

    circumstance

    English

    Alternative forms

    * circumstaunce

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things.
  • * Washington Irving
    • The circumstances are well known in the country where they happened.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
    • , title= , chapter=1 citation , passage=“The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely, William, to whom she was passionately attached ; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas. […]”}}
  • An event; a fact; a particular incident.
  • * Addison
    • The sculptor had in his thoughts the conqoeror weeping for new worlds, or the like circumstances in history.
  • * 1834 , David Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of , Nebraska 1987, p. 20:
    • Then another circumstance happened, which made a lasting impression on my memory, though I was but a small child.
  • Circumlocution; detail.
  • * Shakespeare
    • So without more circumstance at all / I hold it fit that we shake hands and part.
  • Condition in regard to worldly estate; state of property; situation; surroundings.
  • * Addison
    • When men are easy in their circumstances , they are naturally enemies to innovations.

    Derived terms

    {{der3, attendant circumstance , extenuating circumstances , under no circumstance , under the circumstances}}

    Verb

    (circumstanc)
  • To place in a particular situation, especially with regard to money or other resources.
  • * 1858 , , Chapter 8:
    • Tidings had in some shape reached is ears that his father was not comfortably circumstanced as regarded money.
  • *