as in former
having been such at some previous time
the once child star is now a lawyer in the entertainment industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in when
just at the moment that
you should have stopped wrestling once you knew someone was getting hurt, not five minutes later
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of once
Liam Tharme, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
What was once a pass-through town has garnered national attention for its growing food scene.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2025
Kanye also attacked Jay-Z and his wife, Beyoncé, along with their children, over feeling abandoned by his once collaborator.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for once
Adverb
Turkey’s best men’s marathoner in Rio was born in Kenya — once named Mike Kipruto Kigen, and now called Kaan Kigen Ozbilen — and two of their three athletes in the women’s marathon originated from Ethiopia.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
What was once a pass-through town has garnered national attention for its growing food scene.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The price target increases come as industry giant BYD last week announced ultra-fast charging technology, on top of its launch in February of driver-assist systems for a range of its cars — signaling the once niche feature is going mainstream.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2025
Kanye also attacked Jay-Z and his wife, Beyoncé, along with their children, over feeling abandoned by his once collaborator.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
Adverb
-
This stands in sharp contrast to struggling sectors like multifamily, which are contending with softening rents and oversupply in formerly high-growth markets.—
Andrew DeNardo,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Fruitist, founded in 2012 and formerly known as Agrovision, launched its first consumer products in 2020, recently surpassed $400 million in annual sales, and reached a valuation above $1 billion.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The expiring boost, implemented in Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act under former President Joe Biden, applies to 22 million of the 24 million low- and middle-income Americans with plans through the ACA marketplace.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Frantzve was also a former beauty queen, having been crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Smith replied that private schools must submit renewal packets every year before they are approved to continue participation in the accounts program, and that the agency compares the new tuition rates against the older rates.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The reversal marks just one example of how Trump is rewriting Republicans’ decades-old playbook on countering Beijing’s influence in the United States and abroad.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In order to embolden and support his organization, bin Laden often videotaped himself with messages aimed at his target audience, established training centers in Afghanistan, had an expansive funding network that included wealthy individuals, couriers, mosques and other complex ways to raise funds.—
Richard Frankel,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Advertisement Kirk’s path to national prominence was unlike that of other MAGA icons.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
While Russia obsesses over Ukraine, its erstwhile friends and clients are quietly slipping away.—
Jeremy Shapiro,
The Atlantic,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The decisions ultimately have dire consequences for both the erstwhile pals and everyone else living on Inisherin.—
Hannah Kerns,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Georgia firebrand, who has been insistent that the United States stay out of affairs abroad, has attempted similar amendments to both the NDAA and appropriations bills in past years and recently, with no success.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Monday's test was the ninth of the engine built with carbon fiber and capable of producing 1,971 kilonewtons of thrust, more powerful than past models, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Those two little words, your place, offer a first big hint as to the sometime-couple’s current status.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Things are about to get wiggy as comedian, podcaster and sometime camp counselor Zachariah Porter is coming to The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Elon Musk has been booted from his spot as the world's richest person, according to Bloomberg's latest ranking.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Bowlan, who was a second-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, will need to do his part in helping the team make a late run.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share