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
There will be once in a generation — maybe once in a lifetime — talents.
—
Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, 19 July 2024
Ben might have hoped that a few months in Berlin together would afford them plenty of opportunities for father-daughter bonding, but he soon gets sucked into the kind of professional opportunity that, in his words, only comes around once in a lifetime.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 25 June 2024
The fifth pillar of Islam, the hajj is mandatory once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it and is the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity.
—Ahmed Mohamed Hassan and Farah Saafan, USA TODAY, 20 June 2024
Below, an inside look at the making of a once in a lifetime event.
—Vogue, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for once in a lifetime 
Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, 19 July 2024
Ben might have hoped that a few months in Berlin together would afford them plenty of opportunities for father-daughter bonding, but he soon gets sucked into the kind of professional opportunity that, in his words, only comes around once in a lifetime.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 25 June 2024
The fifth pillar of Islam, the hajj is mandatory once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it and is the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity.
—Ahmed Mohamed Hassan and Farah Saafan, USA TODAY, 20 June 2024
Below, an inside look at the making of a once in a lifetime event.
—Vogue, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for once in a lifetime
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'once in a lifetime.' 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 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 12 Sep. 2024.
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