as in former
having been such at some previous time
the once child star is now a lawyer in the entertainment industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in when
just at the moment that
you should have stopped wrestling once you knew someone was getting hurt, not five minutes later
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of once
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
As a teenager, Jeff and his family moved once again, this time settling down in Florida.
—Alex Gurley, People.com, 29 June 2025
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
For Silver, there can no peace until the new school, and the resurgence of Cobra Kai headed by his once friend and now nemesis Kreese, gets some payback.
—Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for once
Adverb
Continue to deadhead dahlias throughout their blooming season, as often as once a week, to maximize their flower production.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
As a teenager, Jeff and his family moved once again, this time settling down in Florida.
—Alex Gurley, People.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
But Smith also had some choice words for the once and future president.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
For Silver, there can no peace until the new school, and the resurgence of Cobra Kai headed by his once friend and now nemesis Kreese, gets some payback.
—Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
Adverb
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The shares are enjoying a floor of support from the formerly resistant $55 level, with a historically bullish trendline just below.—
Schaeffer's Investment Research,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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In 2021, Fendi and Flos B&B Italia (formerly Design Holding) formed Fashion Furniture Design, or FF Design, to develop the Fendi Casa business.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Nic’s former connection, Cierra, who was kicked off the show for using a racial slur in a past social media post, subtly supported her former partner’s new connection with her best friend.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Reed Hastings, co-founder and former CEO of Netflix, has signed on as an executive producer of the upcoming crime-thriller 52nd State, which is currently in production in Bogota, Colombia.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Difficulty breathing Irregular heartbeat Cardiac arrest (heart attack) Adults 19 and older should not take more than 350 mg of magnesium per day to avoid side effects and reduce the chance of toxicity.10 7.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
11 July 2025
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The style of the ceramic vessels in the room suggested the tomb was very old.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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But once those issues were resolved, random drop-in visits from Social Services workers over the next decade yielded no citations or other issues.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
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This is one of the countless reasons the Secret Service prides ourselves on forging and maintaining relationships with other law enforcement agencies.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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But the real question is what kind of concrete retribution Trump could try to exact on his erstwhile political ally and campaign donor.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
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On the way to the Fordyce’s second floor, the erstwhile opulence along Bathhouse Row becomes evident.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Bedford's past efforts to lower pilot training requirements remain a concern for the pilots union and many senators.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
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Rather than a break from past policy, this is its acceleration — minus the democratic rhetoric.—
Yohann Ripert,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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The five new unplugged versions were produced and mixed by band songwriter/guitarist and sometime singer Noel Gallagher and Callum Marinho from the original master recordings at Gallagher’s London Lone Star Sound studio, according to a release announcing the project.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
2 July 2025
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Toss in his old girlfriend Lucy and her sometime boyfriend and former cop Chuck Littlefield, and enjoy the ride in this sweet, sharp book.—
Ashley Baker,
Air Mail,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Many among Australia’s 117,000-strong Jewish population are anxious after spate of antisemitic attacks in the country’s two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, since late last year – including arson attacks on synagogues, and swastikas scrawled on buildings and cars.—
Angus Watson,
CNN Money,
5 July 2025
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An attendee holds a portrait of late football player Andre Silva during the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva at the Mother Church of Gondomar, on the outskirts...—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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