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
Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
Rotavirus was once a disease that hospitalized up to 70,000 children each year.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Aug. 2025
Topshop, the once king of British high-street fashion, is returning with a runway show after seven years under the current majority owner Heartland, the investment and holding company representing the interests of Bestseller owner Holch Povlsen and his family.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for once
Adverb
What was once a show about business is now a cross-section of the overlapping institutions that make up the status quo, and how much disruptors like Harper and Whitney can — or can’t — change them.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
Rotavirus was once a disease that hospitalized up to 70,000 children each year.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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
Topshop, the once king of British high-street fashion, is returning with a runway show after seven years under the current majority owner Heartland, the investment and holding company representing the interests of Bestseller owner Holch Povlsen and his family.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
Adverb
-
Miami is hiring Jon-Eric Sullivan, formerly the Green Bay Packers’ VP of player personnel, to be their GM, according to NFL Media.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The Riverhouse hospitality event empire was started in 2007 when three managing partners built Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station and soon added Society Room of Hartford, formerly an Irish pub in Hartford.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Jack McGregor, a former state senator and the original founder of the Pittsburgh Penguins, died at the age of 91 on Tuesday.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Notable alumni Plenty of former Canes players were on the sidelines pregame Thursday.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Come late January or early February, Denver could be down its defensive coordinator, a whiz-kid offensive mind, and a slightly older whiz-kid defensive mind.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Newsom is certainly right that California is a great state and an economic engine unmatched by other states.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
-
To address the problem, water managers many years ago lowered the levels, but the tree islands never recovered, leaving ghosts of islands that lack the elevation to support the majestic hardwoods found in other parts of the Everglades, such as cypress, pond apple and pop ash trees.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The erstwhile quarterback for the Judases should just stay home with Madison Beer, his erstwhile girlfriend, maybe take in a movie.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Inside, a trove of occult objects attests to its erstwhile owner’s conception of the space as a funerary mansion for his soul in the afterlife.—
Javier Montes,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Dawson Griffin had 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 blocks, and Wilson Reid tallied 8 points and 5 rebounds for the Yellowjackets, who've won 13 of their past 14 games.—
Erick Taylor,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Matthews has six goals in his past three games.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
De Niro-Rodriguez, a sometime actor who had appeared in Bradley Cooper’s 2018 A Star Is Born.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Donald had a new lady called Marla Maples, who was a sometime actress, putting it delicately.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 prompted unified Western sanctions, massive military aid, and rhetorical solidarity, but by late 2025, strategic divergences had widened amid battlefield stalemates, economic fatigue, and diplomatic initiatives.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Ahmad Moten was fortunate not to be called for what was clearly a late hit.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share