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
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
According to a senior law enforcement official, the shooter visited the church weeks ago under the pretext of wanting to reconnect with the Catholic faith at the school, which the shooter once attended.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2025
Kanye also attacked Jay-Z and his wife, Beyoncé, along with their children, over feeling abandoned by his once collaborator.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for once
Adverb
But scaling such a network is difficult because quantum particles collapse once measured.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
According to a senior law enforcement official, the shooter visited the church weeks ago under the pretext of wanting to reconnect with the Catholic faith at the school, which the shooter once attended.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The price target increases come as industry giant BYD last week announced ultra-fast charging technology, on top of its launch in February of driver-assist systems for a range of its cars — signaling the once niche feature is going mainstream.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2025
Kanye also attacked Jay-Z and his wife, Beyoncé, along with their children, over feeling abandoned by his once collaborator.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
Adverb
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The shows officially start on the 11th, and Public School, yes, the formerly defunct label by Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, is hosting a supper club extravaganza.—
Vogue Runway,
Vogue,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The formula for Penn State this year will likely be running the ball, throwing as needed and then playing sound defense with the addition of coordinator Jim Knowles, formerly of Ohio State.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Mace's former fiancé denied the accusations.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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The firms of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, hedge fund billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs joined an $863 million fundraise for Commonwealth Fusion Systems.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Amid the album's release, Justin shared several clips and photos on Instagram of billboards and projections in various locations around the world featuring a photo with his 1-year-old son Jack Blues, and himself and his wife, 28, with the little one.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Lopez noted and mocked Johnson’s comments, sarcastically asking why the mayor didn’t blame it on other historic phenomena.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Additional locations may experience flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, high winds, or other factors.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But now, with another tough contract negotiation on the horizon, SAG-AFTRA is going to have to push forward without its erstwhile leader from Queens.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Aug. 2025
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Another was an erstwhile belt factory and a third is in the former Cook County Hospital.—
Brian E. Clark,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The discovery of the fraud also prompted a review of the department’s past payments.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Those two little words, your place, offer a first big hint as to the sometime-couple’s current status.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
4 Sep. 2025
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Things are about to get wiggy as comedian, podcaster and sometime camp counselor Zachariah Porter is coming to The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
French pharmaceutical group Sanofi dropped 10%, with JPMorgan analysts calling results from its latest dermatitis drug study weaker than expected.—
Jenni Reid,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
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Ozzy Osbourne's youngest son is hitting back after Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters criticized his late father.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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