once in a lifetime
idiom
: very rare or very rarely
a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
This sort of opportunity comes along once in a lifetime.
Examples of once in a lifetime in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump is a once in a lifetime foil for Canadian politicians, criticizing him and his policies is a campaign cudgel that is easy to land.
—
Paula Newton, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
His ability to overcome the pressure and challenges to perform at a high level is something that only comes around once in a lifetime.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Guides are recommended for this once in a lifetime experience.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
She's captured images of the stunning scenery and the once in a lifetime experiences that she's had along the way.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for once in a lifetime
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Paula Newton, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
His ability to overcome the pressure and challenges to perform at a high level is something that only comes around once in a lifetime.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Guides are recommended for this once in a lifetime experience.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
She's captured images of the stunning scenery and the once in a lifetime experiences that she's had along the way.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for once in a lifetime
Cite this Entry
“Once in a lifetime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/once%20in%20a%20lifetime. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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