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.
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Recent Examples of once
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2026
Aubrey, once a Major League Soccer prospect, holds the NFL record for most field goals of 60 yards or more and has made 122 of 126 field goal attempts since signing with the Cowboys ahead of the 2023 season.
—Cbs Texas Staff, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
The once grand Art Deco hotel is owned by an LLC called St. George Hotel Associate, which is also responsible for maintaining the Clark Street stop under an agreement with the MTA.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for once
Adverb
His relationship with his father, at once tumultuous and tender, traces the quiet and often unspoken labor of forgiveness.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2026
Aubrey, once a Major League Soccer prospect, holds the NFL record for most field goals of 60 yards or more and has made 122 of 126 field goal attempts since signing with the Cowboys ahead of the 2023 season.
—Cbs Texas Staff, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The once jet-setting, Oscar-winning movie producer has remained in custody at Rikers Island jail, and has frequently been hospitalized due to health issues.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
The once grand Art Deco hotel is owned by an LLC called St. George Hotel Associate, which is also responsible for maintaining the Clark Street stop under an agreement with the MTA.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
Adverb
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But in September Wing resigned to become the executive director and CEO of ArkansasTV, formerly Arkansas PBS, creating the need for a special election.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
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Transcription services have already made a formerly tedious process instantaneous, allowing reporters to process more information and get stories out quicker.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Shakir Khan, a former Lodi City Council member, was sentenced to three years in the San Joaquin County Jail for a conviction of election fraud and money laundering.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
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And testimonials from former patients told stories of dreams come true after years of trying for a child.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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All guests, however, must be at least eight years old.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Michael Vaughan went missing from his home in Fruitland in July 2021, triggering a search for the 5-year-old that involved law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels.—
Alex Brizee
March 3,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Walsh was joined by Sean Davis, Saagar Enjeti, and other conservative commentators who spent the day accusing the administration of bungling its messaging on the conflict.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Mar. 2026
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That larger halo could bring multiple globular clusters together, but could also not necessarily contain other reservoirs of gas or normal matter, being instead overwhelmingly dominated by dark matter.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The erstwhile third baseman moved to right field midway through camp last spring then placed fourth among MLB right fielders in defensive runs saved as a rookie, per Sports Info Solutions.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
24 Feb. 2026
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Directed and co-written by Alexandre Rockwell, the film follows an aspiring filmmaker (Steve Buscemi) who falls in with an irresistibly charming gangster (Seymour Cassel, who won Sundance’s first acting award) as his erstwhile producer.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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While each transition had been seen independently in past experiments, researchers had never captured both in succession, completing the theoretical picture.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
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Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) tries to drive past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game at American Airlines Center, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Dallas.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In my new novel, set during the offseason in her sometime-lover’s family beach house, ‘lover girl’ floats from boy to boy, beach to city, and ultimately to Paris, searching for ever-elusive meaning, love, and inspiration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
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The soft, romantic look of a boho dress can bring a levity to an all black outfit which is a nice break from the sometime cumbersome stylings of wearing a single color head-to-toe.—
Shelby Comroe,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Amplifying the chaos were questions over who will replace Ali Khamenei, Iran’s late leader, who was killed in the aerial barrage over the weekend.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
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Israel says one latest attack in the city struck Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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