How to Use once in a lifetime in a Sentence

once in a lifetime

idiom
  • This is the kind of thing that happens once in a lifetime.
    Jim Farber, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2024
  • Below, an inside look at the making of a once in a lifetime event.
    Vogue, 25 June 2024
  • And to be sharing the stage with Lang Lang will be a dream come true; a once in a lifetime performance.
    Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 8 May 2023
  • And to be sharing the stage with Lang Lang will be a dream come true; a once in a lifetime performance.
    Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 8 May 2023
  • So the first trip is that wish trip, and that's just a once in a lifetime experience that's week long.
    Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024
  • These kinds of things might happen to mortal programs once in a lifetime, if that.
    Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2023
  • 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
  • Henry is a high school kid who believes true love only comes once in a lifetime.
    Kori Williams, Seventeen, 20 Jan. 2023
  • The Amalfi Coast is a one-of-a-kind destination that merits a visit at least once in a lifetime.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
  • There will be once in a generation — maybe once in a lifetime — talents.
    Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, 19 July 2024
  • This is resulting in more people booking these ‘once in a lifetime’ trips.
    Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
  • Over 300 reviews deem it a 'once in a lifetime' experience.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2024
  • 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
  • Making your debut at La Danse is literally once in a lifetime.
    Michael Nied, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • 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
  • Sip mocktails and learn about this once in a lifetime event, in partnership with The Cincinnati Observatory.
    Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
  • As one brother is seduced into a life of crime, the other defies all odds and embarks on a once in a lifetime opportunity that captures the heart of a nation.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
  • As our world warms, extreme weather that used to happen once in a lifetime are becoming more frequent occurrences.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN, 16 Sep. 2023
  • That once in a lifetime moment gone because of DEI's political agenda.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2025
  • Getting to dive deep into the emotion behind it and having the honor of portraying that through music is a once in a lifetime experience.
    Lily Moayeri, Variety, 6 Mar. 2023
  • Just like life cycles, these stages are logical and everyone goes through them, typically about once in a lifetime.
    Ray Dalio, TIME, 25 June 2024
  • Guides are recommended for this once in a lifetime experience.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
  • People are describing the whole night of migration as part of a once in a lifetime thing … (but) this still is an unacceptable intrusion by humans and their architecture.
    Todd Richmond, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2023
  • But also very excited first this once in a lifetime opportunity.
    Lawrence Yee, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
  • Yeomans agrees these once in a lifetime storms are occurring more often and closer together.
    Carol Thompson, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
  • For the newest Opry members, this night is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
    Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Nov. 2025
  • Obviously, singing with Cynthia is always once in a lifetime.
    Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
  • This is probably a once in a lifetime event.
    Sara Schilling, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Sharing this special day with you is once in a lifetime!
    Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025

Some of 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.

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