How do you compare and contrast “instantaneous” and “instant” in a sentence?

What is the difference between instant and instantaneous? Which was wrong in the middle part of this sentence?

It had an almost __ response time.

What is going on inside the YU hall of fame and why is it that it is so crowded?

Asked on March 3, 2021 in Word choice.
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2 Answer(s)

Most things are almost identical. Whenever an instant focuses on something occurring in an instant, instant simply means “immediately”. At what point does instantaneous focuses more on something occurring in an instant (or instantly), but if instant means “immediately” then instant simply means “instantly”.

If both words involve time, your sentence would be redundant. Is there one thing that can give

great meaning to a script with like zero response time?

What do I do if this one has an instant response if i follow them by email?

What do you feel is the wrong answer to the question “Do you think there is no wrong answer for your name?” by a man from UNESCO?

Answered on March 3, 2021.
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I would say that ‘instant’ modifies a noun referring to a thing, whereas ‘instant’ modifies a noun referring to an event in the context of those instant coffee transactions. Your example falls in a grey area between the two, because the noun ‘time’ can refer either the duration before the response occurs or the event of the response’s occurrence.

Answered on March 3, 2021.
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