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Glite Dictionary
one at a time

one at a time

107 1.9
Handle each person or thing in turn, not all at once
  • idiom
: uno a la vez
  • OK, so let me take them one at a time now.
  • enter one at a time
  • present one at a time
  • click items one at a time

Let's save animals lives one at a time treat them with kindness.

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Examples

  • Sure, but one at a time, okay?

    Kindergarten Cop (1990)

  • The questions were read one at a time, and the responses to each question were recorded.

    Academic text (2004)

  • You will go one at a time behind this door.

  • We'll walk you through it one at a time!

    Livescreamers (2023)

  • Slow down, one at a time.

    Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

  • Check out each name, one at a time.

    Revenge (1986)

  • The children were presented with two practice items each, one at a time in each condition.

    Academic text (2012)

  • In one study, we brought students one at a time to our brain wave lab.

  • I'd like to speak to them one at a time.

    Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

  • Okay, kids, please answer your questions one at a time.

Synonyms

one by one
vsone at a time
186 1.4

Things happen one after another, not at the same time

is about dealing with each one in turn not all at once
individually
vsone at a time
136 2.5

Happening one at a time and not with others

focuses on treating each in turn rather than simultaneous handling
one step at a time
vsone at a time
32 2.8

To do a task slowly, handling each part before the next

concerns separate treatment of items or people rather than stepwise progress
step-by-step
vsone at a time
23 2.8

Done in separate parts, each finished before the next

focuses on dealing with individual items in turn not process stages
step by step
vsone at a time
23 1.8

In a gradual way, doing each part one after another

is about separate handling of persons or things rather than stages
bit by bit
vsone at a time
  • Informal
12 2.7

A little at a time

means separate handling of items in turn rather than slow progress
consecutively
vsone at a time
9 4.1

Happening one after another without a break

emphasizes separate handling in turn rather than mere succession
on an individual basis
vsone at a time
  • Formal
7 4.4

Separately for each person or case

means handling each in turn rather than all together
singly
vsone at a time
5 4.6

One at a time rather than in a group

is about dealing with each one in turn not all at once
by the piece
vsone at a time
1 3.4

People make or sell items one at a time instead of in bulk

is broader, applying to people or things dealt with in turn
bit-by-bit
vsone at a time
3.5

Happens slowly, a little at a time

refers instead to treating each person or thing one after another

Antonyms

together
∞ 1.0

In the same place or group with other people

all at once
43 2.1

Happening at the same time

How Simultaneous

all at once
13 3.0
together
∞ 1.0
one by one
186 1.4
one at a time
107 1.9

Surface Forms

one at a time positive

Morphology

one + at + a + time

The meaning 'separately, with each person or thing dealt with in turn' is directly and compositionally built from 'one' (single unit) + 'at a' (per) + 'time' (occasion), so the phrase literally expresses doing items singly. This numeric + temporal construction is a common, predictable pattern in English (and across many languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrase one at a time paints a simple picture: people pass through a door so only one person goes at a time while others wait. So it means 'separately' or 'not all at once'.