once 1 of 3

as in formerly
at an earlier or previous time I once knew the quotation, but time has taken its toll on my brain cells

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

once

2 of 3

adjective

once

3 of 3

conjunction

as in when
just at the moment that you should have stopped wrestling once you knew someone was getting hurt, not five minutes later

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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 once
Adverb
How to watch Following the precedent that began last year, the telecast will once again start at 7 p.m.ET/4 p.m. Sandra Gonzalez, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025 But once again, states and the courts have stepped up to affirm the rule of law and the values that hold us together as a nation. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The downsizing trend reflects broader shifts in marketing as the once staple of American living rooms, thick catalogs from brands like Sears and J.C. Penney have dwindled and been replaced by compact mailings and digital platforms. Natalie Venegas, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024 As job gains dropped off from their once breakneck pace, economists were quick to note that the labor market was merely slowing and not at risk of imminent collapse. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
Adverb
  • With no imminent replacement, Silvia Venturini Fendi, who formerly oversaw menswear and accessories, has taken over as creative director.
    Laia Farran Graves, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Tilda Swinton formerly brought the literary character to life in the original film adaptations.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • After making the cut in Puerto Vallarta, Brown was invited to appear on the CBS show 'Happy Hour', hosted by former PGA Tour player Smylie Kaufman.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The Czech model and former actor bought their four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home on the 216-acre island in 2018 for $1.3 million.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were the only players to hit that mark at 28 years old.
    Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • In the Pig universe, which has now been running for two decades, George remains two years old and Peppa two years older.
    Caroline Frost, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • And don't miss our other parenting guides on baby carriers, baby monitors, and our favorite baby gear.
    Nena Farrell, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Her other bylines include National Geographic, TIME, Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet and Fodor’s.
    Johanna Read, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Trump was tightening the screws after his explosive Oval Office meeting Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the U.S. leader tries to pressure the erstwhile American ally to embrace peace talks with its invader.
    Zeke Miller, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2025
  • There is also Mona’s erstwhile friend Vanessa, once Milton’s latest young discovery, who fell fervidly in love with him, not realizing the danger to her nascent acting career if their affair should end.
    Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Had past experiences conditioned you to caretake others at the expense of your own needs?
    Colin Bedell, Them, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The spokesperson said management was working to fund past payroll issues and was planning to reopen at the start of this year.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Chicago thrillers feature college student and sometime dog obedience trainer Cory Pratt, who lives with his sister Crystal Pratt, an investigator in the violent crimes section of the Chicago police department.
    Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2025
  • The best chance of precipitation will be from sometime Saturday afternoon into Sunday.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • But was that context enough to justify devoting an entire episode — even a relatively compact 38-minute one — to it, this late in a season where the characters the audience is most invested in have now been in limbo for multiple chapters in a row?
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Xiaomi has been making affordable tablets that perform great for a while, and its latest tablets, the Xiaomi Pad 7 series, are the company's best slates yet.
    Ben Sin, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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