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
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Recent Examples of once
Austin Turner, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
If once is a fluke and twice is a pattern, three times is officially a problem.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for once
Adverb
Prior to head coach Cori Close taking over in 2011, the Bruins had advanced to the Elite Eight just once, in 1998-1999, and were far from an annual entrant in the NCAA Tournament.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
If once is a fluke and twice is a pattern, three times is officially a problem.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The once mogul’s Combs’ pricey defense have sought a sentence of just 14 months, with time served — which would have had Diddy out on the streets by Christmas.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
Adverb
-
For a little while, at least — at the Charlotte high school formerly called Vance — Christy Martin wasn’t Christy Martin.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Older Kindles needed to install a software update in 2016 to maintain their access to the Kindle Store, and Kindles with 3G cellular connectivity (formerly known as Whispernet) lost that capability when 3G networks were shut down in the early 2020s.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Current council member Cameron Nave vied for his seat, to which he was appointed last year, against former council member Bill Garnos.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The Australian Special Air Service Association, which represents current and former members of the elite regiment, said some may be required to testify against former comrades.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Since 2023, a Sasquatch figure — similar to the one in the old Jack Link’s Beef Jerky ads — has appeared atop the Royals Hall of Fame in left field after Pasquantino reaches base.—
PJ Green
April 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Not yet able to buy an alcoholic drink, Knueppel is only 20 years old.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Global oil supply has reduced by 13%, according to the IMF, while severe damage has been done to other critical supply chains.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier in the season Schumaker talked about the importance of a well-rounded team to win and while Eovaldi and deGrom struggled in their first three starts other members from the starting rotation stepped up with MacKenzie Gore, Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter all shining.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Spain and Italy have both denied America use of military bases in their territory; Britain, the erstwhile steadfast ally of America, wavered on the issue, too.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Still, the erstwhile tax credit made the cars more accessible.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Bangladesh’s Health Minister Sardar Mohammed Sakhawat Husain responding to questions in Parliament said Monday that the new outbreak was caused by the mismanagement and failures of past governments.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Even though six of those past teams failed to win it all, fans are throwing the history books out the window after witnessing the Bear Down beatdown Saturday night.—
Jack Springgate,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Schnabel — who watched the film near the front of the theater while sitting with pal Tom Waits, the musician and sometime actor who lives in Sonoma County — addressed the walkouts immediately as the post-film discussion moderated by Sundance Film Festival Director Eugene Hernandez began.—
G. Allen Johnson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
-
If the album positions them in the lineage of sometime tourmates Modest Mouse and the Flaming Lips, Something Worth Waiting For sounds less like a swing for the big time than a merry jaunt into its general vicinity, happy to pick up any alt-rock lifers who’ll come.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
If all goes well, NASA will put boots down near the moon's south pole on Artemis 4 in late 2028.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
But a late Alex Karaban 3-pointer fell short and the Wolverines iced it at the foul line.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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