instance

an occurrence of something; an example: The fistfight was an instance of student discord.
Not to be confused with:instants – very brief time periods; almost imperceptible moments: We experience only instants of pure joy.

in·stance

I0168400 (ĭn′stəns)n.1. a. An example that is cited to prove or invalidate a contention or illustrate a point. See Synonyms at example.b. A case or an occurrence: In all such instances, let conscience be your guide.2. A step in a process or series of events: You should apply in the first instance to the personnel manager.3. a. A suggestion or request: called at the instance of his attorney.b. Archaic Urgent solicitation or entreaty.tr.v. in·stanced, in·stanc·ing, in·stanc·es 1. To offer as an example; cite: "I assured her that I was interested in garbage, and instanced the fact that I had once been a garbage inspector myself" (Jane Addams).2. To demonstrate or show by an example; exemplify: "how absurd it often is to cite a single line from ... a poem for the purpose of instancing the perfection or imperfection of the line's rhythm" (Edgar Allan Poe).Idiom: for instance As an example; for example.

[Middle English instaunce, from Old French instance, request, instant, and from Medieval Latin īnstantia, example, both from Latin, presence, from īnstāns, īnstant-, present; see instant.]

instance

(ˈɪnstəns) n1. a case or particular example2. for instance for or as an example3. a specified stage in proceedings; step (in the phrases in the first, second, etc, instance)4. urgent request or demand (esp in the phrase at the instance of)5. (Logic) logic a. an expression derived from another by instantiationb. See substitution^4b6. archaic motive or reasonvb (tr) to cite as an example[C14 (in the sense: case, example): from Medieval Latin instantia example, (in the sense: urgency) from Latin: a being close upon, presence, from instāns pressing upon, urgent; see instant]

in•stance

(ˈɪn stəns)

n., v. -stanced, -stanc•ing. n. 1. a case or occurrence of something: fresh instances of oppression. 2. an example put forth in proof or illustration: to cite a few instances. 3. the institution and prosecution of a legal case. 4. Archaic. urgency in speech or action. 5. Obs. an impelling motive. v.t. 6. to cite as an instance or example. 7. to exemplify by an instance. v.i. 8. to cite an instance. Idioms: 1. at the instance of, at the urging or suggestion of. 2. for instance, as an example; for example. [1300–50; Middle English < Latin instantia presence, urgency (Medieval Latin: case, example)]

instance

Past participle: instanced
Gerund: instancing

Imperative
instance
instance

Present
I instance
you instance
he/she/it instances
we instance
you instance
they instance

Preterite
I instanced
you instanced
he/she/it instanced
we instanced
you instanced
they instanced

Present Continuous
I am instancing
you are instancing
he/she/it is instancing
we are instancing
you are instancing
they are instancing

Present Perfect
I have instanced
you have instanced
he/she/it has instanced
we have instanced
you have instanced
they have instanced

Past Continuous
I was instancing
you were instancing
he/she/it was instancing
we were instancing
you were instancing
they were instancing

Past Perfect
I had instanced
you had instanced
he/she/it had instanced
we had instanced
you had instanced
they had instanced

Future
I will instance
you will instance
he/she/it will instance
we will instance
you will instance
they will instance

Future Perfect
I will have instanced
you will have instanced
he/she/it will have instanced
we will have instanced
you will have instanced
they will have instanced

Future Continuous
I will be instancing
you will be instancing
he/she/it will be instancing
we will be instancing
you will be instancing
they will be instancing

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been instancing
you have been instancing
he/she/it has been instancing
we have been instancing
you have been instancing
they have been instancing

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been instancing
you will have been instancing
he/she/it will have been instancing
we will have been instancing
you will have been instancing
they will have been instancing

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been instancing
you had been instancing
he/she/it had been instancing
we had been instancing
you had been instancing
they had been instancing

Conditional
I would instance
you would instance
he/she/it would instance
we would instance
you would instance
they would instance

Past Conditional
I would have instanced
you would have instanced
he/she/it would have instanced
we would have instanced
you would have instanced
they would have instanced

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	instance - 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"case, examplehappening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent - an event that happenshumiliation, mortification - an instance in which you are caused to lose your prestige or self-respect; "he had to undergo one humiliation after another"bit, piece - an instance of some kind; "it was a nice piece of work"; "he had a bit of good luck"time, clip - an instance or single occasion for some event; "this time he succeeded"; "he called four times"; "he could do ten at a clip"
	2.	instance - 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"example, illustration, representativeinformation - knowledge acquired through study or experience or instructionapology, excuse - a poor example; "it was an apology for a meal"; "a poor excuse for an automobile"exception - an instance that does not conform to a rule or generalization; "all her children were brilliant; the only exception was her last child"; "an exception tests the rule"case in point, precedent - an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later timequintessence - the most typical example or representative of a typesample - a small part of something intended as representative of the wholespecimen - an example regarded as typical of its class
Verb	1.	instance - clarify by giving an example ofillustrate, exemplifyelaborate, expatiate, expound, lucubrate, dilate, flesh out, exposit, enlarge, expand - add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; "She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation"

instance

noun1. example, case, occurrence, occasion, sample, illustration, precedent, case in point, exemplification a serious instance of corruption2. insistence, demand, urging, pressure, stress, application, request, prompting, impulse, behest, incitement, instigation, solicitation, entreaty, importunity The meeting was organised at the instance of two senior ministers.verb1. name, mention, identify, point out, advance, quote, finger (informal, chiefly U.S.), refer to, point to, cite, specify, invoke, allude to, adduce, namecheck, namedrop She could have instanced many women who fitted this description.for instance for example, e.g., to illustrate, as an illustration, by way of illustration, exempli gratia (Latin), to cite an instance Let your child make his own decisions sometimes. For instance, let him choose which clothes to wear.in the first instance initially, at first, to begin with, first, firstly, originally, primarily, at the start, at the outset, in the early stages, at or in the beginning The post was for one year in the first instance.

instance

noun1. One that is representative of a group or class:case, example, illustration, representative, sample, specimen.2. A legal proceeding to demand justice or enforce a right:action, case, cause, lawsuit, suit.3. Archaic. Urgent solicitation:insistence, insistency, pressing.verb1. To refer to by name:cite, mention, name, specify.2. To demonstrate and clarify with examples:exemplify, illustrate.

Translations

例子实例

instance

(ˈinstəns) noun an example, especially of a condition or circumstance. As a social worker, he saw many instances of extreme poverty.例子for instance for example. Some birds, penguins for instance, cannot fly at all.比如

instance

→ 实例zhCN

instance

at the instance of

At one's urging. I'm doing some charity work now at the instance of my college advisor.See also: instance, of

this instance

This particular situation. I know I discouraged you from using too many commas in your essays, but, in this instance, I would add a comma. In this instance, Carrie needs her friends' love and support, regardless of how independent she is the rest of the time.See also: instance, this

in the first place

1. From the outset; in or at the very beginning. You should have said you were feeling ill in the first place! I wouldn't have given you such a hard time if I'd known. I never would have bought this car in the first place if I'd known there weren't airbags.2. As the first of a given set of points (e.g., in an argument). Why am I quitting? Well, in the first place, I haven't been paid for overtime in nearly a year, and I just don't feel valued as an employee in general.See also: first, place

for example

A phrase used before the speaker gives a specific example to further explain or illustrate what they are referring to. You should bring something in case you get cold on the plane, like a sweater or scarf, for example.See also: example

for instance

in the first instance

First, before any subsequent actions. In the first instance, tell your boss you're sick and then call and make an appointment with your doctor.See also: first, instance

for instance

for example. I've lived in many cities, for instance, Boston, Chicago, and Detroit. Jane is very generous. For instance, she volunteers at the hospital and gives money to charities.See also: instance

in the first place and in the first instance

initially; to begin with. In the first place, you don't have enough money to buy one. In the second place, you don't need one. In the first instance, I don't have the time. In the second place, I'm not interested.See also: and, first, instance, place

for example

Also, for instance. As an illustration of something, as in Dress casually, in blue jeans, for example, or This program has problems-for instance, it's hard to retrieve lost data. The first expression, which dates from the late 1500s, is used throughout this book to illustrate how an idiom is used. The variant dates from the mid-1600s. See also: example

instance

see under for example.

in the first place

1. From the beginning, at the outset, before anything else. For example, Why didn't you tell me in the first place that you've decided to leave? or He could have bought a new one in the first place. 2. As the first of several items in order of importance. This phrase is usually accompanied by in the second place, third place, and so on, as in I'm not joining the health club because, in the first place, I don't like their hours, and in the second place, I can't afford the dues . [First half of 1600s] Also see for one. See also: first, place

in the ˈfirst instance

(formal) as the first part of a series of actions: In the first instance, notify the police and then contact your insurance company.See also: first, instance

in the ˈfirst place

1 used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the different points you are making in an argument: In the first place it’s not your car, and in the second you’re not old enough to drive it. Is that clear?
2 used at the end of a sentence to talk about why something was done or whether it should have been done or not: I should never have taken that job in the first place.See also: first, place

for ˈinstance

as an example: My books have sold well. My most recent one, for instance, sold 100 000 copies.See also: instance

for example

As an illustrative instance: Wear something simple; for example, a skirt and blouse.See also: example

for instance

As an example; for example.See also: instance

instance

instance

in·stance

instance

in•stance

instance

instance

instance

instance

instance

instance

at the instance of

this instance

in the first place

for example

for instance

in the first instance

for instance

in the first place and in the first instance

for example

instance

in the first place

in the ˈfirst instance

in the ˈfirst place

for ˈinstance

for example

for instance

instance

instance

instance

instance

instance

instance

instance

Synonyms for instance

noun example

Synonyms

noun insistence

Synonyms

verb name

Synonyms

phrase for instance

Synonyms

phrase in the first instance

Synonyms

Synonyms for instance

noun one that is representative of a group or class

Synonyms

noun a legal proceeding to demand justice or enforce a right

Synonyms

noun urgent solicitation

Synonyms

verb to refer to by name

Synonyms

verb to demonstrate and clarify with examples

Synonyms

Synonyms for instance

noun an occurrence of something

Synonyms

Related Words

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

Synonyms

Related Words

verb clarify by giving an example of

Synonyms

Related Words