1
as in occasional
happening only once
with any luck, that was a onetime mistake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in former
having been such at some previous time
the onetime English teacher now works for a newspaper
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 onetime
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
But just three hours before the filing deadline, progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a onetime Bass ally, launched a mayoral bid, shocking the city’s political establishment and upending the race.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
In wealthy Medellin, hawkers have transformed onetime local drug lord Pablo Escobar into a mascot for touristic trinkets.
—Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onetime
Adjective
Nothing is etched in stone as there are still deep concerns among key participants on and off the board that the onetime Bakersfield congressman lacks any real executive experience besides his short and unsuccessful 239-day stint as Speaker of the House.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
But just three hours before the filing deadline, progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a onetime Bass ally, launched a mayoral bid, shocking the city’s political establishment and upending the race.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Find it: Level one, Bloomingdale’s wing A onetime larger chain with only a few spots still in operation, this one at South Coast Plaza offers comfy fare including chicken pot pie, Southwest chicken egg rolls, steaks, burgers and salads..
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
In wealthy Medellin, hawkers have transformed onetime local drug lord Pablo Escobar into a mascot for touristic trinkets.
—Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onetime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onetime
Adjective
-
Senior royals, usually greeted by cheering crowds, have in recent years faced occasional heckles from members of the public relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Yes, Florida comes with the occasional hurricane, but the tradeoff is daily sunshine, endless outdoor activities, cultural experiences, and the chance to wake up somewhere that feels like a permanent vacation.—
Carrie Honaker,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The winning bid for the rare card was placed by venture capitalist AJ Scaramucci, the son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The Sun Belt is the only real exception, having now defined itself as FBS’ actual Southeastern conference, partly by losing its former oddballs like Idaho and New Mexico State.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
In addition to Chervinsky, the organization’s founding team is composed of policy counsel Brad Bourque, formerly an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell, and policy director Salah Ghazzal, previously policy lead at Variant.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
InVideo, which counts Tiger Global and Peak XV (formerly Sequoia Capital India) among its backers, claims a user base of over 50 million across 190-plus countries and has raised more than $50 million in venture funding.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Directed and co-written by Alexandre Rockwell, the film follows an aspiring filmmaker (Steve Buscemi) who falls in with an irresistibly charming gangster (Seymour Cassel, who won Sundance’s first acting award) as his erstwhile producer.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
La Dolce Vita and the Minerva, which occupies the erstwhile palazzo of 17th-century aristocrats, debuted last April.—
Adam Erace,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Epibatidine intrigued researchers for decades and was once highly sought after as a potential analgesic many times more powerful than morphine.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The main sitting area, between the Coquille d’Or bar and the reception area, feels at once Art Deco and Arts & Crafts with its blend of old and modern– carpets with foliage motifs, a mix of travertine and oak, medieval tapestries and vintage Louis XIII-style armchairs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The oldest American woman to compete in the women’s singles event in nearly a century now sits in a distant 13th place ahead of the 4-minute free skate on Thursday night.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Lowenthal has spoken highly of Australia’s similar ban, which went into effect in December and bans accounts for all children under 16 years old.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Onetime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onetime. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
