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instance

An example or occurrence of something is also called an instance. When talking about two teachers you did not like, you might say that in both instances you felt you didn't learn as much as you should have.

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instant / instance

Around the Vocabulary.com office, we might like an instance of tea, but we vehemently oppose instant tea.   Continue reading...

Most commonly, you'll see this word used in the expression, for instance, meaning "for example." Bright colors, for instance pink, green and blue, make you look young and cheerful. Other times, it will mean an occurrence or case. Several instances of cheating have been reported. You can also use instance when taking abut a step in a process. If you have a question about how your test was graded, go to the teacher in the first instance.

DEFINITIONS OF: instance

1

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

Synonyms:
example, illustration, representative
Types:
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apology, excuse
a poor example
exception
an instance that does not conform to a rule or generalization
case in point, precedent
an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
quintessence
the most typical example or representative of a type
sample
a small part of something intended as representative of the whole
specimen
an example regarded as typical of its class
coupon
a test sample of some substance
cross section
a sample meant to be representative of a whole population
grab sample
a single sample or measurement taken at a specific time or over as short a period as feasible
random sample
a sample grabbed at random
tasting
a small amount (especially of food or wine)
Type of:
information
knowledge acquired through study or experience or instruction

n an occurrence of something

“another instance occurred yesterday”
Synonyms:
case, example
Types:
humiliation, mortification
an instance in which you are caused to lose your prestige or self-respect
bit, piece
an instance of some kind
clip, time
an instance or single occasion for some event
Type of:
happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent
an event that happens

v clarify by giving an example of

Synonyms:
exemplify, illustrate
Type of:
dilate, elaborate, enlarge, expand, expatiate, exposit, expound, flesh out, lucubrate
add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing
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