once

adverb \ ˈwən(t)s \

Definition of once

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

See once defined for English-language learners

See once defined for kids

Examples of once in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of once from the Web

Once, the family of eight slept in a van between housing.

— sandy ringer, The Seattle Times, "NPSL Cascade Division Preview: Victor Torres bounced around, but he found a home on Mount Rainier," 30 Aug. 2017
In the recent weeks, the climate of our country has once again reached a peak in its longstanding struggle with the ghosts of the 1860s.

— brookyln brown, Teen Vogue, "Confederate Flags in Dorm Rooms: What Students Think," 30 Aug. 2017
The students paddled and portaged through the park, following the routes once traveled by aboriginals and French-Canadian voyageurs.

— Daily Southtown, "Community news," 30 Aug. 2017
Twenty-year-old Ashley McCarthy was shot in the back twice and once in the head, and left on the steps of her home with Cheatham for dead.

— danielle kwateng-clark, Essence.com, "5 Infamous Black Women Who Committed Unforgettable Crimes," 30 Aug. 2017
Hope that we would once again be respected in the world.

— Cincinnati.com, "Column: A thing called hope," 30 Aug. 2017
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the nation has once again seen a Gulf Coast city flooded, its residents in peril.

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "Why the Gulf Coast Is Uniquely Vulnerable to Disasters," 29 Aug. 2017
Saban was influenced by Belichick, who once took his cues from Parcells.

— rainer sabin, AL.com, "Bill Parcells calls Nick Saban's run at Alabama 'remarkable'," 29 Aug. 2017
Bone beds always come with a mystery: Why did so many animals die at once?

— carolyn gramling, Science | AAAS, "Did tiny algae fell mighty dinosaurs?," 29 Aug. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of once

Middle English ones, from genitive of on one

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 12th century

See Words from the same year

once Synonyms

Synonyms

erstwhile, formerly, onetime

Near Antonyms

lately, recently; currently, now, presently

once

noun

Definition of once

:one single time :one time at least

Please be on time this once.

— at once

1 :at the same time :simultaneously

2 :immediately

3 :²both

at once funny and sad

See once defined for English-language learners

Examples of once in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of once from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of once

see ¹once

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

once

adjective

Definition of once

:that once was :former

a once successful actor

Examples of once in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology of once

see ¹once

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1620

See Words from the same year

once Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

bygone, dead, defunct, departed, expired, extinct, gone, long-ago, vanished

Near Antonyms

contemporary, current, extant, ongoing, present, present-day; coming, future, prospective, unborn

once

conjunction

Definition of once

:at the moment when :as soon as

Once she spoke, I recognized her.

See once defined for English-language learners

Examples of once in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology of once

see ¹once

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1747

See Words from the same year

once Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Near Antonyms

after, directly [chiefly British], since

ONCE Defined for English Language Learners

once

adverb

Definition of once for English Language Learners

: one time only
: at any one time
: at some time in the past

once

noun

Definition of once for English Language Learners

: one single time

once

conjunction

Definition of once for English Language Learners

: at the moment when : as soon as

ONCE Defined for Kids

once

adverb \ ˈwəns \

Definition of once for Students

1 :one time only

It happened just once.

2 :at some time in the past :formerly

It was once done that way.

3 :at any one time :ever

She didn't once thank me.

— once and for all

:now and for the last time That should solve the problem once and for all.

— once in a while

:from time to time I play golf once in a while.

once

noun

Definition of once for Students

:one single time

We can make an exception just this once.

— at once

1 :at the same time

I can't understand with both of you talking at once.

2 :immediately 2

Leave at once.

once

conjunction

Definition of once for Students

:as soon as :when

Once you've finished your homework, you may go outside.

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once

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once

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once

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once

Definition of once for English Language Learners

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Definition of once for English Language Learners

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