in·stance
ˈin(t)-stən(t)s 
1
: a step, stage, or situation viewed as part of a process or series of events
prefers, in this instance, to remain anonymous—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)2
: the institution and prosecution of a lawsuit : suit
3
4
a
: instigation, request
am writing to you at the instance of my client
b
archaic
: urgent or earnest solicitation
c
obsolete
: an impelling cause or motive
instanced; instancing
1
: to illustrate or demonstrate by an instance
2
: to mention as a case or example : cite
Phrases
for instance
\
fə-ˈrin(t)-stən(t)s 
, ˈfrin(t)-
\
: as an instance or example
older people, like my grandmother, for instance
Synonyms
Examples of instance in a Sentence
Noun
an instance of great courage
These delays are just another instance of bureaucratic inefficiency.
In most instances the disease can be controlled by medication.
They have decided not to oppose the decision in this instance.
Verb
instanced one particular incident as an illustration of their penchant for practical jokes
instanced the latest astronomical research in her presentation on measuring star magnitude
Recent Examples on the Web
Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
However, the grocery salmon was not labeled in ways that uniformly benefitted the stores and there were no instances where farmed salmon was falsely advertised as wild.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
Liza Foreman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2023
But there’s been plenty of room for errors and hallucinations, instances when chatbots like ChatGPT have concocted inaccurate—and sometimes worrying—answers to questions.
—Joseph Abrams, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for instance 
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Noun
No attorneys could cite an instance when a wayward wastewater operator ever faced the prospect of incarceration.
—Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
However, the grocery salmon was not labeled in ways that uniformly benefitted the stores and there were no instances where farmed salmon was falsely advertised as wild.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
Topics under discussion included changes in the industry over the last decade, instanced by the rise of digital and gaming, audience fragmentation, and the emergence of disruptive technologies such as AI.
—Liza Foreman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2023
But there’s been plenty of room for errors and hallucinations, instances when chatbots like ChatGPT have concocted inaccurate—and sometimes worrying—answers to questions.
—Joseph Abrams, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for instance
Dictionary Entries Near instance
Cite this Entry
“Instance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instance. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instance
1 of 2 noun
in·stance
ˈin(t)-stən(t)s
1
: request entry 1 sense 1
entered the writing contest at the instance of her teacher
2
: example sense 3
an instance of rare courage
3
: a particular point or step in an action or process
in the first instance
Legal Definition
instance
noun
in·stance
ˈin-stəns
: the institution or prosecution of a lawsuit
a court of first instance
Etymology
Noun
French, from Late Latin instantia, from Latin, the fact of being present or impending, vehemence in speech, urgency, from instant-, instans insistent, pressing, from present participle of instare to be pressing, stand upon
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