What does INSTANCE mean?

Definitions for INSTANCE
ˈɪn stənsin·stance

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word INSTANCE.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. case, instance, examplenoun

    an occurrence of something

    "it was a case of bad judgment"; "another instance occurred yesterday"; "but there is always the famous example of the Smiths"

  2. example, illustration, instance, representativeverb

    an item of information that is typical of a class or group

    "this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome"; "there is an example on page 10"

  3. exemplify, illustrate, instanceverb

    clarify by giving an example of

GCIDE

  1. Instancenoun

    That which offers itself or is offered as an illustrative case; something cited in proof or exemplification; a case occurring; an example; as, we could find no instance of poisoning in the town within the past year.

Wiktionary

  1. instancenoun

    Urgency of manner or words; an urgent request; insistence.

  2. instancenoun

    A case offered as an exemplification or a precedent; an illustrative example.

  3. instancenoun

    A recurring occasion, case etc.

  4. instancenoun

    A piece of evidence; a proof or sign (of something).

  5. instancenoun

    In object-oriented programming: a created object, one that has had memory allocated for local data storage; an instantiation of a class.

  6. instancenoun

    A question that can be asked in the context of a computational problem.

  7. instanceverb

    To mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite; as, to instance a fact.

  8. instanceverb

    To cite an example as proof; to exemplify.

  9. Etymology: From instance, from instantia, from instans; see instant.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Instance, Instancynoun

    Etymology: instance, French.

    Christian men should much better frame themselves to those heavenly precepts which our Lord and Saviour with so great instancy gave us concerning peace and unity, if we did concur to have the ancient councils renewed. Richard Hooker, b. i.

    She dwells so securely upon her honour, that folly dares not present itself. Now, could I come to her with any direction in my hand, my desires had instance and argument to commend themselves. William Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor.

    The instances that second marriage move,
    Are base respects of thrift, but none of love. William Shakespeare.

    The instance of a cause is said to be that judicial process which is made from the contestation of a suit, even to the time of pronouncing sentence in the cause, or till the end of three years. John Ayliffe, Parergon.

    Yet doth this accident
    So far exceed all instance, all discourse,
    That I am ready to distrust mine eyes. William Shakespeare.

    In furnaces of copper and brass, where vitriol is often cast in, there riseth suddenly a fly, which sometimes moveth on the walls of the furnace; sometimes in the fire below; and dieth presently as soon as it is out of the furnace: which is a noble instance, and worthy to be weighed. Francis Bacon.

    We find in history instances of persons, who, after their prisons have been flung open, have chosen rather to languish in their dungeons, than stake their miserable lives and fortunes upon the success of a revolution. Addison.

    The greatest saints are sometimes made the most remarkable instances of suffering. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

    Suppose the earth should be removed nearer to the sun, and revolve for instance in the orbit of Mercury, the whole ocean would boil with heat. Richard Bentley, Sermons.

    The use of instances is to illustrate and explain a difficulty; and this end is best answered by such instances as are familiar and common. Thomas Baker, Reflections on Learning.

    These seem as if, in the time of Edward the first, they were drawn up into the form of a law in the first instance. Matthew Hale.

    The performances required on our part, are no other than what natural reason has endeavoured to recommend, even in the most severe and difficult instances of duty. John Rogers.

  2. To Instanceverb

    To give or offer an example.

    Etymology: from the noun.

    As to false citations, that the world may see how little he is to be trusted, I shall instance in two or three about which he makes the loudest clamor. John Tillotson.

    In tragedy and satire, this age and the last have excelled the ancients; and I would instance in William Shakespeare of the former, in Dorset of the latter sort. John Dryden, Juvenal.

ChatGPT

  1. instance

    An instance is an occurrence, example, or specific case of something within a larger group, category, or concept. It refers to a particular individual or occurrence that represents or demonstrates the characteristics, qualities, or attributes associated with a broader concept or category.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Instancenoun

    the act or quality of being instant or pressing; urgency; solicitation; application; suggestion; motion

  2. Instancenoun

    that which is instant or urgent; motive

  3. Instancenoun

    occasion; order of occurrence

  4. Instancenoun

    that which offers itself or is offered as an illustrative case; something cited in proof or exemplification; a case occurring; an example

  5. Instancenoun

    a token; a sign; a symptom or indication

  6. Instanceverb

    to mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite; as, to instance a fact

  7. Instanceverb

    to give an example

  8. Etymology: [F. instance, L. instantia, fr. instans. See Instant.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Instance

    in′stans, n. quality of being urgent: solicitation: occurrence: occasion: example: (Shak.) evidence, proof.—v.t. to mention as an example.—n. In′stancy, insistency.—adj. Instan′tial (rare).—At the instance of, at the motion or solicitation of; For instance, to take as an example. [O. Fr.,—L. instantiainstans.]

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'INSTANCE' in Nouns Frequency: #1247

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for INSTANCE »

  1. ancients

  2. canniest

  3. catenins

  4. insectan

  5. tenascin

How to pronounce INSTANCE?

How to say INSTANCE in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of INSTANCE in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of INSTANCE in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of INSTANCE in a Sentence

  1. Mike Pompeo:

    This attack was part of the Assad regime's ongoing violent campaign in Idlib, which has killed more than 1,000 innocent Syrians and displaced hundreds of thousands more, it is also the latest instance in a long pattern of Assad's chemical weapons attacks that have killed or wounded thousands of Syrians.

  2. Heiner Bielefeldt:

    I heard, also, very disturbing stories about harassment, for instance, intimidation during Ramadan -- children in schools were expected to break their fasting on Ramadan.

  3. Nick Longrich:

    The fossil record is incomplete enough that if you’re in a new area or a new time, there’s a fair chance that the dinosaurs there are going to be distinct, Steven Jasinski said. For instance, scientists might discover a toe from a brand new species, but such subtle differences may be unrecognizable or impossible to prove. [ T ] hings that we call separate species today would be very, very hard to tell apart based on their skeleton( crow versus raven, for example).

  4. The NFL players union:

    the repetitive use of a switch in this instance is the functional equivalent of a weapon, particularly in the hands of someone with the strength of an accomplished professional athlete.

  5. Andrei Soldatov:

    There are no prospects. I’m an adult, and I didn’t exactly have all my life figured out, but all in all I understood what would happen next. Now nobody understands anything. People don’t even understand what will happen to them tomorrow. the things we held dear, like the memory of the Second World War, for instance, became completely compromised.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

INSTANCE#1#2965#10000

Translations for INSTANCE

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"INSTANCE." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/INSTANCE>.

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    lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun
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