Beat in an instant! (3)
I believe the answer is:
'beat' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'in an instant' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'TAN' can be found hidden inside 'instant'.
(Other definitions for tan that I've seen before include "Healthy sun-burned colour" , "Brown to beat" , "Turn dark in sun" , "Skin colour after exposure to ultraviolet rays" , "Prepare leather" .)