instances 1 of 2

noun

plural of instance
as in examples
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like this is just one instance of his repeated failure to do what he promised

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

instances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of instance
1
as in cites
to give as an example instanced one particular incident as an illustration of their penchant for practical jokes

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in mentions
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically instanced the latest astronomical research in her presentation on measuring star magnitude

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in illustrates
to show or make clear by using examples instanced the hero's moral courage with several examples from the novel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instances
Noun
There have been many instances where players will contort their body, flail around and insinuate hard contact leading to foul calls for years. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 In some instances, federal agencies have mounted criminal cases against recipients of taxpayer money earmarked for homelessness services. — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 In some instances, student radicalism spilled over into yakuza activities. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 The events over the weekend follow similar recent instances of individuals seen entering or exiting the manholes found across New York City streets. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 In some instances, the rapid adoption of AI technology has had unintended consequences that aren’t unique to Africa. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Their primary role has been to assess AI model capabilities and risks and to flag instances where the technology behaves badly. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026 The Star searched Kansas’ online district court database for other instances of hospitals, clinics, private practices and individual physicians who sent patients to collections in the last 30 years. — Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026 According to the library association's most recent report, published in April, some 5,600 instances of bans took place during the previous year. — Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instances
  1. examples
  2. cites
  3. mentions
  4. illustrates
  5. references
  6. notices
  7. demonstrates
  8. specifies
Noun
  • Today, Japanese designers are firmly established on the vintage market and early examples can command extraordinary prices.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • There were loads of other striking red carpet moments in London, too, Florence Pugh’s corseted Wiederhoeft gown and Scarlett Johansson’s red-hot custom Prada dress being two prime examples.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of examples
Verb
  • The filing cites items that were seized from her home in a federal investigation with no assurance that they will be returned, as well as unauthorized people who gained access to her Los Angeles residence.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This year, the State Department again cites Cubans fraudulently recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of cites
Verb
  • When Waits mentions the burglar alarm that sealed Ceaser’s fate, Duke’s piano shimmers dramatically.
    — Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The agenda item recommending rejection, which was moved forward by the board’s Fiscal Accountability & Government Relations Committee, mentions that Columbus High proposed to either buy or enter into a long-term lease on the property.
    — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of mentions
Verb
  • Under Armour's operating income, which illustrates its underlying profitability, turned negative in fiscal 2025 and 2026.
    — Ryan Baker, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • More broadly, the expansion illustrates how advanced technology, industrial investment and acquisition reform are increasingly interconnected in modern defence planning.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of illustrates
Verb
  • Small Town Girls references two shootings, a reference to the gun violence that’s a staple of American life, now more than ever.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of references
Verb
  • In my experience running organic and paid search programs for B2B software companies, this shows up long before anyone notices it in a budget review.
    — Gaetano Romeo, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • About ten minutes into the standoff, the detective notices Bottom holding something in his hand.
    — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of notices
Verb
  • For now, AthenaZero demonstrates a promising direction for robotic design.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Despite the deep divide on governance, and disagreements on governance in Bangladesh, the 300-signatory milestone demonstrates that international brands remain committed to the Accord’s core principle.
    — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of demonstrates
Verb
  • Interestingly, though, nothing in these six conditions specifies a human on the other side.
    — Pascal Vrticka, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Before buying, confirm the device lists wavelengths in the 630-to-850-nanometer range and specifies power output.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of specifies

Browse Nearby Words

instanced
instances
instancies
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instances. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of deportment

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All