- instance
- nounADJECTIVE▪ countless, innumerable, many, multiple, numerous, several▪ few, occasional, rare▪
This is one of the few instances where the director does not succeed.
▪ isolated▪ certain, given, particular, specific▪Further information is required to determine the correct answer in any given instance.
▪ documented, recorded, reported▪There are many documented instances of mass hysteria.
▪ extreme▪ notable, striking▪ classic▪This is a classic instance of Dostoevsky's writing operating on two levels.
VERB + INSTANCE▪ give, provide, represent▪North America provides the most striking instance of European settlement on a grand scale.
▪ describe, document, record, recount, report▪Students described many instances in which they had felt uncomfortable speaking in class.
▪ cite (sth as), take▪Experts cite the country as an instance where human rights violations could lead to international intervention.
▪To take a particular instance of this problem: …
▪ recall, remember▪I cannot recall any other instance in modern times in which a huge and mighty state crumbled to dust.
INSTANCE + VERB▪ occur▪An instance of this controversy occurred last year.
▪ show sth▪This instance shows how important it is to check that the machine is working properly before you use it.
PREPOSITION▪ for instance (= for example)▪Murder, theft and tax evasion, for instance, all have different motives and consequences.
▪ in … instance▪In one instance, several people had their phones stolen.
▪It is not always helpful to draw analogies, but in this instance it is useful.
▪ instance of▪This is an instance of his general attitude to his employees.
PHRASES▪ in the first instance (formal)▪In the first instance, a letter from your employer may be all you need.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
