Happening immediately, without any noticeable delay. As a noun, it can mean a very short moment of time.
From Latin 'instans' meaning 'pressing, urgent, present', from 'instare' (to stand upon). The idea of something pressing right up against you became the sense of something happening right now.
We love things ‘instant,’ but your brain and body are still built for slower, gradual processes. That mismatch is why instant gratification feels amazing short-term and often terrible long-term.
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