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
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2025
This can be tough to compete with once these young professionals officially enter the workforce.
—Jill Shedek, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for once
Adverb
Merrill walked once Wednesday and twice Friday, giving him eight walks in a span of 43 plate appearances.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2025
This can be tough to compete with once these young professionals officially enter the workforce.
—Jill Shedek, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Adjective
But Smith also had some choice words for the once and future president.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
Adverb
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On its face, the action was taken to close loopholes that in some cases allowed dozens of backyard apartments on formerly single-family-home lots.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 June 2025
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The Rancho Cordova Police Department said in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, around 9:40 p.m. that southbound Sunrise Boulevard near Gold Country Boulevard was closed due to a vehicle accident and warned drivers to use an alternate route.—
Marcus D. Smith,
Sacbee.com,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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However, a lawsuit against the university by three former women's swimmers over their experience in sharing a team with Thomas is still active.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2025
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The 2006 movie was adapted from former Vogue assistant Lauren Weisberger's book of the same name.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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The departing older president, the incoming younger Kennedy.—
Dr. Richard Fichman,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
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The older elephants surround it, allowing the youngster to relax and play in the water while being protected from crocodiles lurking nearby.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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What steps to follow when driving in the rain? Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 June 2025
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Sometimes, however, the criticism comes not from the party that lost, but from other justices.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s reelection dashed the view that his first presidency was a mere aberration, and his second administration’s early, seismic actions on global trade, skepticism toward allies, and affection for erstwhile adversaries have already changed the United States’ role and image in the world.—
REBECCA LISSNER,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
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As an early example of this, Stephen Griffin, a constitutional law professor at Tulane Law School, points to the Quasi War, a limited naval conflict between the fledgling U.S. and its erstwhile Revolutionary War ally, France.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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These are the exact same complaints about the season 1 VIPs, and while there is some speculation this is done on purpose to be campy like past genre films, that does not seem to be the case.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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The homer was Muncy’s fourth in the past four games and 13th in his past 49 games after hitting none in his first 28 games of the season.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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Toss in his old girlfriend Lucy and her sometime boyfriend and former cop Chuck Littlefield, and enjoy the ride in this sweet, sharp book.—
Ashley Baker,
Air Mail,
7 June 2025
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That’s because her daughter and sometime musical companion Willow had cooked up her own homebrew tribute to the Great White Way.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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The heat dome over the eastern U.S. originated in the Plains and Midwest, where temperatures in the 90s and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit have persisted since late last week, according to forecasters at AccuWeather.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
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Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma City blew a late lead in Game 1 of the Finals—allowing Indiana to steal a win on OKC’s home floor—making its championship quest that much more difficult.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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