trice
1
9.9
- noun
- /traɪs/
- Informal
- You can finish this task in a trice if you focus.
Examples
-
In a trice, brother and sister were up, standing by her chair, coaxing her to come in.
Blog text (17) -
He rose quickly from his seat, and in a trice, he had disappeared through the door behind him, which led indirectly to his chambers.
Fiction book (2000) -
In a trice, he was at the front door.
Fiction book (1993) -
I'll return in a trice.
Fiction book (1998) -
In a trice, Hopkins, as I told you.
-
In a trice, Sir Bradwen had dismounted as well and seated himself upon the merchant's belly.
Fiction book (2002) -
His wife gave the entire episcopate a fine tongue-lashing, mincing no words, and got over the whole incident in a trice.
Fiction book (1999) -
Huffing slightly and clutching her envelope, she was down the stairs, along the aisle, and standing by his pew in a trice.
Fiction book (1999) -
Sonny hurried to a little cabinet, pulled out a tall bottle of French brandy, and in a trice took up two glasses and poured each of them one-third full of the deep amber drink.
Fiction book (1993) -
She solved the puzzle in a trice, impressing everyone with her speed.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A very short time
209
1.0
A very short moment that passes quickly
64
3.7
A very short time
49
2.5
A very short moment when something happens
35
1.3
A very short time
34
2.8
A very short moment that passes almost instantly
17
7.2
A very short time, just a moment
17
4.9
A very short time like a moment
7
7.2
A very short moment when something happens
4
2.5
A very short moment of time
Antonyms
How Short
Surface Forms
Etymology
Trice as a noun comes from that same idea of a quick pull or action, so a single, fast move became 'a short moment', which is why saying 'in a trice' means 'in an instant'.