English Dictionary
Definition of “instance”
instance (ˈɪnstəns
)
Definitions
noun
- a case or particular example
- See for instance
- a specified stage in proceedings; step (in the phrases in the first, second, etc, instance)
- urgent request or demand (esp in the phrase at the instance of)
- logic
- an expression derived from another by instantiation
- See substitution (sense 4b)
- archaic motive or reason
verb (tr)
- to cite as an example
Word Origin
C14 (in the sense: case, example): from Medieval Latin instantia example, (in the sense: urgency) from Latin: a being close upon, presence, from instāns pressing upon, urgent; see instant
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
insistence,
demand,
urging,
pressure,
stress,
application,
request,
prompting,
impulse,
behest,
incitement,
instigation,
solicitation,
entreaty,
importunity,
=
name,
mention,
identify,
point out,
advance,
quote,
finger,
refer to,
point to,
cite,
specify,
invoke,
allude to
adduce,
namecheck,
namedrop,
Translations
- British English:
instance
An instance is a particular example or occurrence of something....another instance of robbery.ˈɪnstəns NOUN ...another instance of robbery.
- Spanish:
ejemplo
nm
- French:
exemple
nm
- German:
Fall
nm Fälle
- Chinese: 实例 n
- Arabic: حَالَةٌ n
- Portuguese: exemplo nm
- Russian: мгновение nnt
- Croatian: slučaj nm
- Czech: příklad nm
- Danish: tilfælde nnt
- Dutch: geval nnt
- Finnish: esimerkki n
- Greek: περίπτωση nf
- Italian: esempio nm
- Japanese: 事例 n
- Korean: 예 n
- Norwegian: eksempel nnt
- Polish: przykład nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: exemplo nm
- European Spanish:
ejemplo
nm
- Swedish: exempel nnt
- Thai: ตัวอย่าง n
- Turkish: örnek n
- Vietnamese: ví dụ n
Usage examples
Had he heard anything of the whereabouts of the Iad, for instance ?
Clive Barker, EVERVILLE (2001)For instance , killing E. coli 0157: H7 releases large quantities of its toxin, which can make a patient's condition worse.
New Scientist (2003)At a general 12 to 1, and with the ground drying, he strikes a better outlook than Bacchanal for instance.
Irish Times (2002)An investment of £100 per month over 18 years would provide a nest egg of more than £36,000 at 5.5 % growth rate, for instance.
Glasgow Herald (2001)For instance , a patient may be expressing intense guilt over the death of his dog.
Dorothy Rowe, BEYOND FEAR (2002)
