at a time

idiom

1
: during one particular moment
I can only do one thing at a time.
Please speak one at a time and not all at once.
We carried the boxes two at a time up the stairs.
2
: during one period of time without stopping
She can sit and read for hours at a time.

Examples of at a time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Coming on America’s busiest travel day of the year, and at a time when security officials are increasingly worried about the possibility of a terrorist attack inspired by the conflict in the Middle East, the incident prompted a massive federal response. Maria Sacchetti, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023 Add 2 eggs, 1 at a time, whisking until blended after each addition. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2023 Blend until smooth, then slowly bled in the butter one slice at a time. Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 22 Nov. 2023 Anyone can rise above their station, one bootstrap-tug at a time! David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023 All Saar’s years of work and creativity came together at a time when the art world was finally ready for her. Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023 Investors will be looking to see how tightening US restrictions on chip exports affect Nvidia’s outlook, at a time when the escalating battle between the US and China prompted a sharp reversal of corporate strategy at Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Jeran Wittenstein, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023 From the classroom to the courtroom and beyond, people perform best on challenging tasks at a time of day that aligns with their circadian rhythm. Cindi May, Discover Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023 The negotiating committee recommended the pact with unanimous thumbs-up, marking a rare example of unity among SAG-AFTRA’s many factions at a time of change for the industry. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 10 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at a time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near at a time

Cite this Entry

“At a time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20a%20time. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!