Looking up...
The instant noodles were ready in just two minutes.
Die instanten Nudeln waren in nur zwei Minuten fertig.
sofort, augenblicklich
I need an instant solution to this problem.
Ich brauche eine sofortige Lösung für dieses Problem.
The instant coffee dissolved quickly in hot water.
Das Instantkaffee löst sich schnell in heißem Wasser.
Often used in contexts requiring immediate action or results.
Augenblick, Moment
In that instant, everything changed.
In diesem Augenblick änderte sich alles.
Used as a noun to refer to a very short period of time.
While 'sofort' is the direct translation, 'instant' is often used in compound terms like 'Instantkaffee' or 'Instantnudeln'. In pure adjective form, 'sofortig' is more common in German.
As an adjective, 'instant' describes something immediate (e.g., 'instant help'). As a noun, it refers to a brief moment (e.g., 'in that instant').
From Latin 'instant-' (present participle of 'instare' meaning 'to be present, to stand upon'), via Old French 'istant' and Middle English 'instant'.
In German, 'instant' is often translated as 'sofortig' (adjective) or 'Augenblick' (noun). The word is commonly used in product names (e.g., 'Instantkaffee') and technical contexts (e.g., 'instant messaging').