once

[ wuhns ]

/ wʌns /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR once ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

at one time in the past; formerly: I was a farmer once; a once powerful nation.

a single time: We ate there just once. We go to a movie once a week.

even a single time; at any time; ever: If the facts once become known, it will be just too bad.

by a single step, degree, or grade: a cousin once removed.

adjective

former; having at one time been: the once and future king.

conjunction

if or when at any time; if ever.

whenever; as soon as: Once you're finished, you can leave.

noun

a single occasion; one time only: Once is enough.

Idioms for once

all at once,

simultaneously: The children were running, screaming, and throwing things all at once.
suddenly: All at once the rain came down.

at once,

at the same time; simultaneously: Don't all speak at once.
immediately; promptly: Tell him to come at once!

once and again, repeatedly: He has been told once and again not to slam the door.

once and for all, decisively; finally: Let's settle this problem once and for all. Also once for all.

once in a while, at intervals; occasionally: She stops in to see us once in a while.

once or twice, a very few times; infrequently: I've seen her in the elevator once or twice.

once upon a time, at some unspecified past time, especially a long time ago: Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a prince and princess.

Origin of once

before 1150; Middle English ones, Old English ānes, orig. genitive of ān one; replacing Middle English enes, Old English ǣnes once, equivalent to ǣne once (orig. instrumental of ān) + -es adv. suffix; see -s¹

Words nearby once

onassis, onassis, jacqueline kennedy, onbeat, onboard, onc, once, once and for all, once bitten, twice shy, once in a blue moon, once in a lifetime, once in a while

Example sentences from the Web for once

Once discovered, this maneuver did not endear the councilors to their constituents.

Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers |Michael Schulson |July 27, 2016 |DAILY BEAST
My doctor insisted that once I filed this piece I lie down on my bed and not get out.

I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 |Vicky Ward |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Every once in a while, they act swiftly and acknowledge the problem.

Today’s GOP: Still Cool With Racist Pandering? |Michael Tomasky |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Once I began reading, I realized A Gronking to Remember was a masturbatory tribute to the New England Patriots.

‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits |Emily Shire |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

Where the U.S. once depended on its own forces to determine who was military material, this time the Iraqis will decide.

Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’ |Nancy A. Youssef |January 6, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
I see it at once, I replied, but that heavy charge must fall on some other body.

Harmonies of Political Economy |Frdric Bastiat
Strangers who come at this time of day at once enter the family circle.

Historic Highways of America (Vol. 12) |Archer Butler Hulbert
Eleanor Gray—the world is small, the life of it persistent; generations repeat themselves, and each is young but once.

The Militants |Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews
When he got up he did not mount at once, but stood and looked round him for a while.

The Red Romance Book |Various
Deucalion and Pyrrha saw the bright waste of water sink and grow dim and the hills emerge, and the earth show green once more.

Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew |Josephine Preston Peabody

British Dictionary definitions for once

once

/ (wʌns) /

adverb

one time; on one occasion or in one case

at some past time; formerly I could speak French once

by one step or degree (of relationship) a cousin once removed

(in conditional clauses, negatives, etc) ever; at all if you once forget it

multiplied by one

once and away

conclusively
occasionally

once and for all conclusively; for the last time

once in a while occasionally; now and then

once or twice or once and again a few times

once upon a time used to begin fairy tales and children's stories

conjunction

(subordinating) as soon as; if ever or whenever once you begin, you'll enjoy it

noun

one occasion or case you may do it, this once

all at once

suddenly or without warning
simultaneously

at once

immediately
simultaneously

for once this time, if (or but) at no other time

Word Origin for once

C12 ones, ānes, adverbial genitive of on, ān one

Idioms and Phrases with once

once

In addition to the idioms beginning with once

once and for all
once bitten, twice shy
once in a blue moon
once in a lifetime
once in a while
once over lightly
once upon a time

also see:

all at once
at once
every now and then (once in a while)
give someone the once-over

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

once

adverb

adjective

conjunction

noun

Idioms for once

Origin of once

Words nearby once

Example sentences from the Web for once

British Dictionary definitions for once

adverb

conjunction

noun

Word Origin for once

Idioms and Phrases with once

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

once

adverb

adjective

conjunction

noun

Idioms for once

Origin of once

Words nearby once

Words related to once

Example sentences from the Web for once

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for once

adverb

conjunction

noun

Word Origin for once

Idioms and Phrases with once

British Dictionary definitions for once