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
The sterile males then mate with females, who only reproduce once in a lifetime.
—
Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Being able to be in a room full of comedians being stupid and funny like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
For most football fans, going to the Super Bowl is a once in a lifetime experience.
—Mike Toole, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
For choreographers in the pop music realm, the chance to work with a superstar artist can come once in a lifetime.
—Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for once in a lifetime
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Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Being able to be in a room full of comedians being stupid and funny like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
For most football fans, going to the Super Bowl is a once in a lifetime experience.
—Mike Toole, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
For choreographers in the pop music realm, the chance to work with a superstar artist can come once in a lifetime.
—Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2026
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 17 Feb. 2026.
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