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Glite Dictionary
at a time

at a time

768 1.0
Together in a single group
  • idiom
translation icon : a la vez
  • You need to knock them down one problem at a time, one wall at a time.
  • one at a time
  • an hour at a time
  • a minute at a time

They all put their pants leg on, one leg at a time. They're all human.

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Examples

  • I like to work on one area at a time and then kind of move away.

  • I think we just gotta take things one day at a time.

    Last Resort (1996)

  • We just took each day at a time, then did the best we could.

    Stanford

  • Do not use it for two hours at a time, sorry.

    Wayne Goss

  • We should just take this a step at a time.

    The Boost (1988)

  • I'm taking it a day at a time at this at this point.

    Vanity Fair

  • Sometimes she stayed there for a month or two at a time, occasionally a little longer.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Second, the coach would, in random fashion, send one player at a time to be interviewed.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Working with one class at a time, the teacher guides each group as it writes lyrics.

    Academic text (1999)

  • I like to complete one task at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Synonyms

at the same time
vsat a time
∞ 1.0

During the same time or moment

covers doing things together across a single occasion rather than one instant
together
vsat a time
511 1.0

At the same time as someone or something else

emphasizes doing things during one occasion rather than only group presence
at once
vsat a time
287 1.8

At the same time

means together during a single period rather than that exact instant
simultaneously
vsat a time
209 4.2

At the same time

is broader, also meaning during one single period or occasion
all together
vsat a time
100 1.0

With everyone at the same time

focuses more on happening during a single occasion rather than mere group presence
collectively
vsat a time
91 3.6

All act together as a group

puts the focus on a single occasion or simultaneous timing instead of group alone
as a group
vsat a time
72 2.3

Together, all people act or decide as one

is about happening during one occasion or at the same time rather than unity alone
all at once
vsat a time
43 2.1

Happening at the same time

can also mean during one occasion or as a single group rather than one moment
at one time
vsat a time
32 2.5

Happening at the same time

leans more toward happening during one occasion rather than only the moment
en masse
vsat a time
24 5.6

All people in a group do the same thing at the same time

covers joint action during one occasion rather than physical group movement only
in one sitting
vsat a time
10 3.2

To finish something all at once without taking a break

emphasizes doing things during one occasion rather than uninterrupted completion
in one go
vsat a time
4 3.4

All at once without stopping

means occurring together during one period rather than focusing on one attempt
at one stroke
vsat a time
1 4.7

All done at the same time with one action

is broader, referring to happening together during one period rather than one act

How Simultaneous

at a time
768 1.0
one by one
186 1.4

Surface Forms

at a time positive

Morphology

at + a + time

The phrase combines the simple temporal ingredients 'at' (preposition), 'a' (article) and 'time' (a point/period) to create a clear temporal frame meaning 'during a single occasion' or 'in a single group/simultaneously'. This composition follows regular English grammar and similar patterns in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

At a time comes from the simple picture of doing something during one 'time' or turn, not in many parts. For example, if you carry two boxes at a time, you carry them together now and more later, so the phrase means 'together' or 'in one moment'.