as in former
having been such at some previous time
the once child star is now a lawyer in the entertainment industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in when
just at the moment that
you should have stopped wrestling once you knew someone was getting hurt, not five minutes later
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of once
Francesca Street, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
Deadheading and even removing all flowers and buds once per growing season allows the plant to put more energy into its roots to better support more flowering.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2025
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
Adverb
In an unexpected turn of events, two versions of Mickey, both played by Pattinson, end up existing at once, and must team up to save the day.
—Francesca Street, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
Deadheading and even removing all flowers and buds once per growing season allows the plant to put more energy into its roots to better support more flowering.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 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as the once staple of American living rooms, thick catalogs from brands like Sears and J.C. Penney have dwindled and been replaced by compact mailings and digital platforms.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
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Lovers Lane was one of the first stops and has the most fantastic assortment of Christian Dior, Rabanne (formerly Paco), and other rare and not-so-known designers.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
22 Feb. 2025
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One day after the news broke, the filmmaker took to X (formerly Twitter) Saturday morning to apologize and explain his side.—
Carly Thomas,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Robert De Niro appeared on The Late Show to promote his new Netflix series Zero Day, on which the actor plays a former U.S. president.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
20 Feb. 2025
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Robert De Niro stars as former U.S. President George Mullen, who is pulled out of retirement to head the Zero Day Commission, a group of experts tasked with investigating the cyberattack.—
Dana Feldman,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Sam Nivola as Lochlan Ratliff: The high school senior, Timothy and Victoria's youngest, is pulled between following the life path of his older sister and brother while deciding his major life decision: Whether to go to Duke or the University of North Carolina.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
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Now Sarah Snook, the Australian actor who played Shiv Roy — older sister to Kieran Culkin’s Roman — makes her Broadway debut in Kip Williams’s intricately high-tech retelling of Oscar Wilde’s classic novel.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Brendon Thorne | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday cut benchmark interest rates for the first time in over four years, finally joining ranks with other major global central banks, as softening inflation allows room for easing policy.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2025
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She was identified as a person of interest in other murders as well, including the murder of Curtis Lind, a landlord in Vallejo, California, who was stabbed to death three days before the Vermont shooting.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The erstwhile heir apparent stepped down as New World’s CEO in September and was succeeded by chief operating officer Eric Ma, who in turn, was replaced two months later by Echo Huang, the CEO of the company’s mainland subsidiary.—
Zinnia Lee,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
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According to a White House official, the guest list includes Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican and erstwhile presidential candidate; Michigan Representative John James; prison reform advocate Alice Johnson; and civil rights activist Alveda King.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Had past experiences conditioned you to caretake others at the expense of your own needs?—
Colin Bedell,
Them,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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The best chance of precipitation will be from sometime Saturday afternoon into Sunday.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The East should also warm to above normal early to mid week, before cooling off again back to normal (or slightly below) late week, according to the Weather Prediction Center.—
Doyle Rice,
USA TODAY,
23 Feb. 2025
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Last month, a late 3-pointer sunk the Broncos when the teams met in Logan, Utah.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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