once and for all

phrase

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.

Examples of once and for all in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2011, the Smithsonian’s Richard Kurin decided to settle the matter once and for all. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2026 However, the android princess decides at this point to prove the humans wrong, once and for all. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2026 With Uranus stationing retrograde in your sign, disruption at work, perhaps from earlier in the year, could resurface… except this time, you’re being called to deal with it once and for all. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026 Today’s Walmart Deals of the Day have three slick gaming deals designed to maximize desk space, immerse you in fluid visuals, and cut the cord once and for all. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for once and for all

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Once and for all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/once%20and%20for%20all. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster