at one time
32
2.5
- idiom
:
a la vez
- Fifteen to twenty were usually on the beach at one time when the tide was low.
- many things at one time
- multiple students at one time
- things at one time
I'll figure out how to be in two places at one time later, right?
- I'll figure out how to be in two places at one time later, right?
- I'll admit she launches a lot at once and it's just like a ton is coming out at one time so it can be a little overwhelming.
- OK, we're testing my strength to see if I can take this whole entire stack down at one time.
- What quantum physics says, what the guy's telling you is, is that atom particles can be in two places at one time.
- And so and that and it takes this radical love, we struggle as human beings to allow two things to exist at one time.
- So I see it making inroads really broadly around society, a whole range of areas not, but not not at one time and at different speeds.
- So many times the media can craft the narrative that now changes the perception of two young men, one young woman all at one time.
Examples
-
It's impossible for all those factors to be in play at one time and place.
Fiction book (2001) -
As a result, it becomes impossible to visually absorb the entire altar at one time.
Academic text (2009) -
There can only be one king at one time.
-
Too much work involved all at one time.
-
Avoid telling too many things to too many people at one time.
Academic text (1996) -
Between 1 and 6 students were tested in each condition at one time.
Academic text (1996) -
What happens at one time to one group of people may not be applicable to another.
Academic text (2001) -
I think that's the most I've ever heard you say at one time.
-
I can't be everyplace at one time.
-
We can only accommodate thirty guests at one time in the restaurant.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
During the same time or moment
768
1.0
Together in a single group
511
1.0
At the same time as someone or something else
287
1.8
At the same time
209
4.2
At the same time
43
2.1
Happening at the same time
14
5.8
Happening at the same time as something else
4
3.4
All at once without stopping
2
8.4
At the same time or during the same period
1
4.7
All done at the same time with one action
Happening at the same time as something else
Happening at the same time as other things
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'at' marks a temporal location, 'one' specifies a single instance, and 'time' denotes a point or period, so 'at one time' naturally yields 'at a particular (often earlier) time.' This mapping is common across languages (equivalent to 'once' or 'formerly') and would be readily inferable by a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
The adverb at one time comes from the idea of everything happening in one time — one single moment. Imagine all the lights going out together; they go out at one time, so the phrase means 'simultaneously'.