instance

noun

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

An occasion; an order of occurrence.

One of a series of recurring occasions, cases, essentially the same.

(computing) A specific occurrence of something that is created or instantiated, such as a database, or an object of a class in object-oriented programming.

(massively multiplayer online games) A dungeon or other area that is duplicated for each player, or each party of players, that enters it, so that each player or party has a private copy of the area, isolated from other players.

(massively multiplayer online games) An individual copy of such a dungeon or other area.

(Internet) An independent server on a decentralised social network, such as Mastodon.

(obsolete) Urgency of manner or words; an urgent request; insistence.

(obsolete) A token; a sign; a symptom or indication.

(obsolete) That which is urgent; motive.

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

verb

(transitive) To mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite

(intransitive) To cite an example as proof; to exemplify.

(massively multiplayer online games) To duplicate (a dungeon or other area) for each player, or each party of players, that enters it, so that each player or party has a private copy of the area, isolated from other players.

(transitive, computer graphics) To render (an object) as part of a batch, using the same geometry data.

Roots

stosta- · Latin · stand

Synonyms for instance

examplen casen particularadj exemplarn occurrencen illustrationn exemplificationn exemplifyv illustratev precedentn

Synonyms & related words for instance

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of instance — including example, case, particular, exemplar, occurrence, illustration. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to instance

Explore words related to instance — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include instantiation, exemplificative, instantiate, exception, epagoge, exemplum, context, wherein. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for instance

Common synonyms for instance include example, case, particular, exemplar, occurrence, illustration, exemplification, exemplify — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does instance come from?

The word instance breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root sta-, from Latin sto (“stand”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.