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once

once

1.0
At some time in the past when something was true but not now
  • adverb
  • /wʌns/
translation icon : antes
  • I think I got in my apartment pool once, only once.
  • once belonged to
  • once lived
  • once wealthy, now

They kill growth at what were once growth companies.

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Examples

  • The village was once a bustling market town before the road was built.

  • On this day, Sam wrote, "Once upon a time there was a mean dragon."

    Academic text (1999)
  • OK, once a month, once a week, do it.

  • I met a man like that once.

  • This woman was once the brightest light in the room.

  • You know, this was once the tallest structure in the us.

  • Although, I once owned a parrot.

  • After a lifetime of churchgoing, I now attend once a year: on Ash Wednesday.

    Academic text (2011)
  • There are some things, George Orwell once remarked, that can only be learned at university.

    Academic text (1999)
  • By the 1770s, the Coffeehouse had been sold and was once again a store.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

one time
vsonce
750 1.0

On a single occasion

is used more generally to mean past time rather than only one occasion
formerly
vsonce
161 1.9

At an earlier time

is used more for a single past moment than a long past period
at one time
vsonce
112 2.8

In the past

is used for a single past occasion rather than a past period
sometime
vsonce
  • Formal
3 5.5

Having had a job or role in the past, not now

refers to a past time or moment rather than to past roles

Antonyms

1.0

At the present time

now
4 1.0

The present moment when something is happening

Idioms

974 1.0

One more time

427 1.6

Sometimes, but not very often

344 1.0

Immediately without delay

287 1.8

At the same time

To end a problem completely so it never happens again

139 1.0

Another time after something has already happened

88 1.6

Happens one or two times, not often

43 2.1

Happening at the same time

13 3.0

Happening suddenly and without warning

6 5.0

Happens very rarely

To check something carefully before you do it to avoid mistakes

9.9

To try again to face a difficult situation even after failing before

7.9

Careful about doing something again because of a bad past experience

Compounds

once-over
  • Informal
9 5.6

A quick check to find mistakes or problems

6.5

A CD you can record on once and then only read

Surface Forms

once positive

Etymology

The word once can mean 'formerly' because it literally meant 'at one time' in the past, with one meaning 'a single time'. So saying 'he was famous once' means he was famous 'at one time' before now.