once

adverb

\ ˈwən(t)s

Definition of once

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : one time and no more rode a horse only once went skydiving once

2 : at any one time : under any circumstances : ever didn't once thank me

3 : at some indefinite time in the past : formerly was once a booming mining town

4 : by one degree of relationship first cousin once removed

once and for all

1 : with finality : definitively The team proved once and for all that they are the best.

2 : for the last time I'm telling you once and for all that I'm not going.

once in a while

: now and then spent most of their time at home, but went out once in a while

once

noun

Definition of once (Entry 2 of 4)

: one single time : one time at least Please be on time this once.

at once

1 : at the same time : simultaneously

2 : immediately

3 : both entry 2 at once funny and sad

once

adjective

Definition of once (Entry 3 of 4)

: that once was : former a once successful actor

once

conjunction

Definition of once (Entry 4 of 4)

: at the moment when : as soon as Once she spoke, I recognized her.

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about once

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Synonyms for once

Synonyms: Adverb

erstwhile, formerly, onetime

Synonyms: Adjective

erstwhile, former, late, old, onetime, other, past, quondam, sometime, whilom

Synonyms: Conjunction

as soon as, immediately [chiefly British], instantly, when

Examples of once in a Sentence

Adverb

I will repeat the question once. The play was performed only once. She didn't once thank me. He didn't look at me once. It was once done that way. A river once flowed through this canyon. It was once a booming mining town. Their music was once very popular.

Noun

I have tried Indian food more than once. Please be on time just this once. For once you seem to know what I'm talking about.

Adjective

the once child star is now a lawyer in the entertainment industry

Conjunction

Once she spoke, I recognized her. you should have stopped wrestling once you knew someone was getting hurt, not five minutes later

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

Bake bread cubes, tossing once, until they are dried out and golden, 8 to 10 minutes. — Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, "How to turn old bread into a fresh and amazing meal," 5 Sep. 2019 What was once billed as a romp through a reinvention fantasy has snuck up on us to become iconic career-girl TV. — Megan Angelo, Glamour, "Somehow Younger Has Become the Most Realistic Show About Careers on TV," 4 Sep. 2019 While supportive of some of the Green New Deal’s ideals, such as using climate change as an opportunity to create new jobs, Biden’s proposal mentions the Green New Deal by name exactly once. — Mark K. Matthews, Scientific American, "Five Things to Watch During CNN’s Climate Forum," 4 Sep. 2019 Lithuania, once part of the USSR and ruled from Moscow, refuses to purchase the electricity and wants its neighbors to refrain too. — Time, "This Lithuanian City Played Host to Filming For HBO's 'Chernobyl.' It's Now Preparing for Its Own Nuclear Radiation Leak," 4 Sep. 2019 San Lazzaro degli ArmeniThere are public tours of this secluded island monastery once every afternoon, starting at 3:25 p.m. Don’t forget to hit the gift shop: Locals rave about the rose-petal jam made by the monks who live here. — Andrea Whittle, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Locals' Guide to Venice," 4 Sep. 2019 Councilman Allan Mansoor cast the dissenting vote because of his lingering concerns that the project’s parking would be insufficient and traffic would double once the development arrives. — Daily Pilot, "The Plant commercial-residential project to take root in Costa Mesa after council gives OK," 4 Sep. 2019 Euphoria fans started freaking out after she was spotted vacationing in Greece with co-star Jacob Elordi, who was once linked to his Kissing Booth co-star, Joey King. — Jasmine Gomez, Seventeen, "Tom Holland Just Posted the Cutest Photo in Honor of Zendaya's Birthday," 3 Sep. 2019 Hedberg once had two clients who traded dreaded holiday tasks, to take a little off each other’s plates. — Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, "Beat Holiday Stress by Making No — or Few — Plans This Year," 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The second-year quarterback completed 10 of 13 passes for 113 yards, led two scoring drives in three series of action and once again showed play-making ability with his feet. — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions' stock watch: Rookie LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin a bright spot," 25 Aug. 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

And Michigan's gone through spring drills without a clear answer of who will realistically be the front-runner once summer begins. — Nick Baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football's Shea Patterson still competing despite unclear situation," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'once.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of once

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1620, in the meaning defined above

Conjunction

1747, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for once

once

adverb

once

Definition of once

Synonyms for once

Examples of once in a Sentence

First Known Use of once

History and Etymology for once

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