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
Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Royals’ offense still seeking consistency After crossing home plate just once in Saturday’s loss to the Orioles, the Royals scored early on Sunday against Orioles starter Cade Povich.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2025
Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
As the once leader of the industry, its woes rippled backward through the supply chain and forward into the airline industry which desperately needed new aircraft to meet the rising demand for post-pandemic travel.
—Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for once
Adverb
The commercial rate for three-yard bin picked up once per week would increase to $137.93, up from $133.89.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Royals’ offense still seeking consistency After crossing home plate just once in Saturday’s loss to the Orioles, the Royals scored early on Sunday against Orioles starter Cade Povich.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
For Silver, there can no peace until the new school, and the resurgence of Cobra Kai headed by his once friend and now nemesis Kreese, gets some payback.
—Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
As the once leader of the industry, its woes rippled backward through the supply chain and forward into the airline industry which desperately needed new aircraft to meet the rising demand for post-pandemic travel.
—Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
Adverb
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Back in 2018, when Versace was bought by Capri (formerly Michael Kors) from the Versace family and Blackstone, Capri splashed out $2.2 billion including debt.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2025
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The story of Ted Scott’s first day as a caddie — for Grant Waite, a New Zealand PGA Tour pro — is legendary in the caddie community: Scott, formerly a full-time teaching pro, didn’t know he was expected to carry a yardage book, let alone be responsible for his player’s distances.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Flying along with the three household names will be former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, activist and bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2025
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Walter Nolen is a former top prospect who the physical traits to be a dominant force on the defensive interior.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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My father, Mila’s grandfather, after whom she is named, was five years old at the time.—
David Bezmozgis,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2025
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Desk calendar Your old phone can be repurposed as your personal calendar.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The ‘big three’ countries of India, Australia and England have been reticent given that slipping into the lower bracket would scupper their money-making plans, with the trio wanting to play each other more often given the financial incentives.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Poolhouse expects to sign additional franchising or joint venture agreements in other countries.—
Tim Casey,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Earlier this year, there was a small bit of consternation in the Death Grips fan community due to an apparent private comment from erstwhile band member Andy Morin that was leaked publicly.—
Matthew Strauss,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2025
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Bloomberg/Via Getty Images President Trump's announcements on tariffs have dismayed many of his erstwhile supporters on Wall Street.—
Steve Inskeep,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Moreover, Edward Jones has proactively addressed past disparities.—
Jason Wingard,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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When the interviewer also brought up past accounts of Murray being difficult to work with on set (Lucy Liu recently discussed her experience), Murray also shrugged those off.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Led by Smith’s longtime bass player and keyboardist Tony Shanahan, the support crew included Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, former Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, drummer and sometime Rolling Stone Steve Jordan, and guitarist Charlie Sexton.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2025
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Vito Genovese, Frank’s sometime friend and longtime rival, is having a more eventful evening, overseeing the murder of his wife’s ex-husband.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But the prolific writer-director’s latest provides an illustration of how the genre became somewhat fossilized via formulaic writing and overexposure even before 1950s television began churning out Western content in bulk.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
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One giant got distracted by a wandering minstrel One giant overslept and started late Clues: Brumm is not the fastest builder but didn’t oversleep.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
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