1. (n.) A brief duration; a split second\; a portion of time too short to be estimated; also, any particular moment.

2. (a.) Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest.

3. (a.) Closely pressing or impending in respect to time; not deferred; immediate; without delay.

4. (a.) Present; current.

5. (adv.) Instantly.

6. (n.) A day of the present or current month; as, the sixth instant; -- an elliptical expression equivalent to the sixth of the month instant, i. e., the current month. See Instant, a., 3.

a breath about to be actual acute alert already in sight approaching apt as is at hand being bit breath breathing brewing burning clamant clamorous close close at hand coming compelling contemporaneous contemporary coup crack critical crucial crying current cursory day decisive demanding dire direct draining earnest exacting exigent existent existing exorbitant expeditious extant extortionate fateful moment festinate feverish flash flying forthcoming fresh furious future gathering going to happen grasping hair-trigger half a jiffy half a mo half a second half a shake hasty high-pressure high-priority hour hurried immanent immediate imminent impendent impending imperative imperious importunate in danger imminent in prospect in reserve in store in the cards in the offing in the wind in view insistent instantaneous interval jiff jiffy juncture kairos last-minute latest lightning-like little little bit little while looming loud lowering lurking menacing microsecond millisecond minute modern moment moment of truth momentaneous momentary near near at hand nearing new no time on the horizon on the spot overhanging overnight pair of winks passing period persistent pertinacious pivotal point pregnant moment prepared preparing present present-age present-day present-time pressing presto prompt psychological moment punctual quick quick as lightning quick as thought ready ready-made ready-mixed running season sec second shake short spell short time slap-bang slapdash small space snap space span speedy spell split second spurt stage stretch stroke summary superficial swift taxing that be that is that will be threatening tick time time lag to come topical trice twink twinkle twinkling twitch two shakes up-to-date up-to-the-minute upcoming urgent waiting while wink