instance

[ in-stuh ns ]

/ ˈɪn stəns /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR instance ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a case or occurrence of anything: fresh instances of oppression.

an example put forth in proof or illustration: to cite a few instances.

Law. the institution and prosecution of a case.

Archaic. urgency in speech or action.

Obsolete. an impelling motive.

verb (used with object), in·stanced, in·stanc·ing.

to cite as an instance or example.

to exemplify by an instance.

verb (used without object), in·stanced, in·stanc·ing.

to cite an instance.

Idioms for instance

at the instance of, at the urging or suggestion of: He applied for the assistantship at the instance of his professor.

for instance, as an example; for example: If you were to go to Italy, for instance, you would get a different perspective on our culture.

Origin of instance

1300–50; Middle English < Latin instantia presence, urgency (Medieval Latin: case, example). See instant, -ance

synonym study for instance

2. See case¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM instance

coun·ter·in·stance, noun un·in·stanced, adjective

Words nearby instance

installment, installment buying, installment plan, instalment, instamatic, instance, instancy, instant, instant camera, instant message, instant photography

Example sentences from the Web for instance

They just reflect the range of breeds that were used to create the Heck cattle in the first instance.

‘Nazi Cows’ Tried to Kill British Farmer |Tom Sykes |January 6, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
For instance, Best Buy has over 40 million members in its customer loyalty program, Reward Zone.

Best Buy Punches Back at Amazon |William O’Connor |December 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
For instance, how do you balance honesty with any protective urge?

Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination |Mindy Farabee |December 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
El Bulli, for instance, previously named the best restaurant in the world, shuttered its doors after only a few decades.

Inside The World’s 10 Oldest Restaurants |Justin Jones |December 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

This happens, for instance, in one out of five vaccinations against rubella.

Uh Oh: Ebola Vaccine Trials Stop |Leigh Cowart |December 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
We glance over the record of the Cecils, for instance, to find that the present Marquis Pg.

James Watt |Andrew Carnegie
So these men of the fifteenth century had to teach themselves, in the first instance, the very elements of this knowledge.

Renaissance Fancies and Studies |Violet Paget (AKA Vernon Lee)
The notation for the lute, for instance, was invented about 1460 to 1500.

Critical & Historical Essays |Edward MacDowell
And in this instance the fourth copy was not used, is that correct?

Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15) |The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
For instance, behind the plaster is the modern metal lath so superior to the old wooden variety.

If You're Going to Live in the Country |Thomas H. Ormsbee and Richmond Huntley

British Dictionary definitions for instance

instance

/ (ˈɪnstəns) /

noun

a case or particular example

for instance for or as an example

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 (def. 4b)

archaic motive or reason

verb (tr)

to cite as an example

Word Origin for instance

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

Idioms and Phrases with instance

instance

see under for example.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

instance

noun

verb (used with object), in·stanced, in·stanc·ing.

verb (used without object), in·stanced, in·stanc·ing.

Idioms for instance

Origin of instance

synonym study for instance

OTHER WORDS FROM instance

Words nearby instance

Example sentences from the Web for instance

British Dictionary definitions for instance

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for instance

Idioms and Phrases with instance

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

instance

noun

verb (used with object), in·stanced, in·stanc·ing.

verb (used without object), in·stanced, in·stanc·ing.

Idioms for instance

Origin of instance

synonym study for instance

OTHER WORDS FROM instance

Words nearby instance

Words related to instance

Example sentences from the Web for instance

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for instance

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for instance

Idioms and Phrases with instance

British Dictionary definitions for instance