Instant vs Prompt - What's the difference?
instant | prompt |
A very short period of time; a moment.
* She paused for only an instant , which was just enough time for John to change the subject.
A single, usually precise, point in time.
* The instant the alarm went off, he fled the building.
An instant beverage or food, especially instant coffee.
A day of the current month (abbreviated as : )
* In response to your letter of the twenty-first instant...
(dated) Impending; imminent.
* Prior
(dated) Urgent; pressing; acute.
* Bible, Rom. xii. 12
* Carlyle
Occurring immediately; immediate; present.
* Fuller
* {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
, title=
, chapter=2 Lasting for a short moment; momentary; short-lived.
Very quickly and easily prepared.
Of the current month (abbreviation inst.).
* “I refer to your letter of the 16th inst. in regard to traffic disruption”
(poetic) At once; immediately.
* 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I.182:
(archaic) Ready, willing (to act).
* 1623 , William Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra , III.8:
Quick, acting without delay.
On time, punctual.
A reminder or cue.
(business, dated) A time limit given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods.
* John Stuart Mill
(computing) A symbol that appears on a monitor to indicate that the computer is ready to receive input.
(writing) A suggestion for inspiration given to an author.
To lead someone toward what they should say or do.
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=September 2
, author=Phil McNulty
, title=Bulgaria 0-3 England
, work=BBC
(theater, and, television) - to show or tell an actor/person the words they should be saying, or actions they should be doing.
As nouns the difference between instant and prompt
is that instant is a very short period of time; a moment while prompt is a reminder or cue.As adjectives the difference between instant and prompt
is that instant is impending; imminent while prompt is ready, willing (to act).As an adverb instant
is at once; immediately.As a verb prompt is
to lead someone toward what they should say or do.instant
English
Alternative forms
* instaunt (obsolete)Etymology 1
From (etyl) . More at (l), (l).Noun
(en noun)Etymology 2
From (etyl) and (etyl) instant, from (etyl) ; see state.Adjective
(-)- Impending death is thine, and instant doom.
- Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
- I am beginning to be very instant for some sort of occupation.
- The instant time is always the fittest time.
citation, passage=No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.}}
- instant coffee
Derived terms
* instantize, instantise * instantly * instant replayAdverb
(-)- He left the room for his relinquished sword, / And Julia instant to the closet flew.
Statistics
* ----prompt
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Tell him, I am prompt To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele.
- He was very prompt at getting a new job.
- Be prompt for your appointment.
Derived terms
* promptnessNoun
(en noun)- To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt , which for this article [tea] is three months.
- I filled in my name where the prompt appeared on the computer screen but my account wasn't recognized.
Verb
(en verb)- I prompted him to get a new job.
citation, page= , passage=The only sour note on a virtually perfect night for England came from shameful 'monkey' chanting aimed at Ashley Cole and Ashley Young from a section of Bulgaria's fans which later prompted an official complaint from the Football Association to Uefa.}}
- If he forgets his words I will prompt him.