instanta.[L. instans, -antis, p. pr. of instare to stand upon, to press upon; pref. in- in, on + stare to stand: cf. F. instant. See Stand.]()1. Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest.()Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. (Rom. xii. 12. )I am beginning to be very instant for some sort of occupation. (Carlyle.)2. Closely pressing or impending in respect to time; not deferred; immediate; without delay.()Impending death is thine, and instant doom. (Prior.)3. Present; current.()The instant time is always the fittest time. (Fuller.)()adv. Instantly.()Instant he flew with hospitable haste. (Pope.)n.[F. instant, fr. L. instans standing by, being near, present. See Instant, a.]()1. A point in time; a moment; a portion of time too short to be estimated; also, any particular moment; as, teh situation may change in an instant.()There is scarce an instant between their flourishing and their not being. (Hooker.)2. 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.()()