once in a lifetime
idiom
: very rare or very rarely
a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
This sort of opportunity comes along once in a lifetime.
Examples of once in a lifetime in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Below, an inside look at the making of a once in a lifetime event.
—
Vogue, 25 June 2024
Over 300 reviews deem it a 'once in a lifetime' experience.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2024
Just like life cycles, these stages are logical and everyone goes through them, typically about once in a lifetime.
—Ray Dalio, TIME, 25 June 2024
Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024
This is the kind of thing that happens once in a lifetime.
—Jim Farber, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2024
But also very excited first this once in a lifetime opportunity.
—Lawrence Yee, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
Sip mocktails and learn about this once in a lifetime event, in partnership with The Cincinnati Observatory.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
Español Playing for the first time at Miami’s Kaseya Center last month was a once in a lifetime experience for Morat.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024
Vogue, 25 June 2024
Over 300 reviews deem it a 'once in a lifetime' experience.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2024
Just like life cycles, these stages are logical and everyone goes through them, typically about once in a lifetime.
—Ray Dalio, TIME, 25 June 2024
Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024
This is the kind of thing that happens once in a lifetime.
—Jim Farber, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2024
But also very excited first this once in a lifetime opportunity.
—Lawrence Yee, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
Sip mocktails and learn about this once in a lifetime event, in partnership with The Cincinnati Observatory.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
Español Playing for the first time at Miami’s Kaseya Center last month was a once in a lifetime experience for Morat.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'once in a lifetime.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near once in a lifetime
Cite this Entry
“Once in a lifetime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/once%20in%20a%20lifetime. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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