once1 adverbonce2 conjunction
onceonce1 /wʌns/ ●●● S1 W1 adverb 
WORD ORIGINonce1
Origin:
1200-1300 oneEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Once, when I was a little boy, I found a gold watch on the beach.
- Here's a picture of a convertible we had once.
- I've only worn this dress once.
- I remember once it snowed on my birthday, and I was so excited.
- She once called me a liar - I've never forgiven her.
- They had met once on holiday, so they knew each other slightly.
- Brush tops with garlic oil and turn once more.
- In seventh grade, the problem increased once again, with nearly 22 percent of students identified as work-inhibited.
- It will be opened to the public in the next few years, once essential maintenance is completed.
- Nomatterhow he had changed - if indeed he had changed - that man had once been a sadistic brute.
- Some were hit more than once.
- The invisible flutter and swoop of black creatures, still furious with the woman who had once banished them.
- The school funding proposed by Wilson this year is once again the minimum required by school funding.
- You once let out the fact that you wished you were free of the burdens your family placed on you.
Longman Language Activatorold-fashioned in a pleasant way
· They had met once on holiday, so they knew each other slightly.· She once called me a liar and I've never forgiven her.· I remember once it snowed on my birthday, and I was so excited.
spoken once: · I remember coming home from school one time and finding we'd been burgled.· One time we went out fishing on the lake at night.
use this to give an example of when something you are talking about happened, especially when it is a particularly interesting or extreme example: · On one occasion, she rang his home and a strange woman answered.· She had some pretty frightening experiences. On one occasion her jeep was hijacked by a group of armed soldiers.
at one time during a period of time, process, or event in the past: · I dieted for many years, and at one stage I weighed only 71 kg.· It was a terrible winter. At one stage all the roads to the village were blocked by snow.· At one stage in the match, he was trailing by three games, but he managed to fight back.
at one time during an activity or period of time in the past: · At one point in the interview, he seemed close to tears.· "You play the piano very well," I remember Mrs Saito remarking at one point.· I had several narrow escapes during the war, at one point just missing death when my plane was shot down.
on a day in the past - use this especially when the exact day does not matter and you are telling the story of what happened: · I was sitting eating my breakfast one day when the telephone rang.· One day when we had nothing else to do, we went down to the river for a swim.· He used to come and go, then one day he went away and never came back.
again · If you're late again we'll leave without you.· The floor needs cleaning again.· It was nice to see you again.· Julie! It's your sister on the phone again.· The fresh mountain air soon made Jennifer feel strong again.· When I was safely back in my apartment again, I took out the letter and read it.
formal use this especially about something worrying or serious that has happened before: · Once again, the French army were totally humiliated.· The crops had failed, and once more, famine threatened the region.· Once again, I must remind you of the seriousness of the problems we face.· The cost of living is once more on the increase.· Once again, the City Council has decided to ignore the interests of the taxpayers.
use this when something has happened too many times before in a way that is very annoying: · Yet again, I was forced to ask my parents for money.· The opening of the new museum has been delayed yet again.· Yet again, you're late turning in your assignment.· It was the last day of their vacation and it was raining yet again.
again, and usually for the last time: · Can we practise the last part just once more?· I'm going to ask you just one more time: where did you get this money?· She wanted to see her grandfather once more before he died.
: fresh attempt/look/start one that is done again from the beginning in a new way, after you have been unsuccessful in the past: · I think we need to take a fresh look at the problem.· The army is planning a fresh attempt to regain control of the capital.
spoken say this when something annoying happens again or happens too many times: · "Sue, Steve's on the phone asking for you." "Oh, not again!"· "Not again!" said Anna, as the word CANCELLED appeared next to her flight number for the third time.
on one occasion in the past · She once called me a liar - I've never forgiven her.· Once, when I was a little boy, I found a gold watch on the beach.
informal on one occasion in the past: · One time we went out fishing on the lake at night.· Aileen came round to tea one time, and we did our homework together.
on a day, morning, or afternoon in the past - use this when it is not important to say exactly which day it is: · Then, one day he went away and never came back.· I was having my breakfast one morning when the telephone rang.· One day, when we had nothing else to do, we went for a swim in the river.
something that happened on one occasion happened once in the past, but is often typical of what usually happens: · He drinks far too much. On one occasion I saw him drink a whole bottle of vodka.· On one occasion I made the mistake of arriving at work late and my boss has never let me forget it.
if a particular situation existed at one stage during a period in the past, it existed, but only at that time: · It was a terrible winter. At one stage, we had to dig our way out of the house.· At one stage during the competition, it looked as though our team might win.· I went on a diet and at one stage I weighed only 71 kg.
if something happened, especially something interesting or important, at one point during an activity or period of time in the past, it happened then: · At one point in the interview Gorbachev admitted he had made serious mistakes.· "You play the piano very well," I remember Mrs Saito remarking at one point.
when something happened or was true in the past but not now if someone or something used to do something, they did it for a period of time in the past, or they did it regularly in the past, but they do not do it now: · "Do you smoke?" "No, but I used to."used to do something: · We used to live in Glasgow when I was young.there used to be: · Thirty years ago, there used to be a market in the town.never used to: · It never used to rain as much as this.didn't use to do something spoken: · I was surprised to see her driving - she didn't use to.used not to do something formal: · He used not to be so critical of other people's behaviour.
during a period of time in the past but not now - use this when it is not important to say exactly when this period was: · Apparently he once worked for the FBI.· It is a big city now, but at one time the population was only 50,000.· a sports car once owned by Paul McCartney
during a particular period of time in the past - use this when you are comparing that period with the present: · I was a student in the 1950s, and things were very different then.· At that time most married women stayed at home.
use this to talk about a situation that existed before the present time but does not exist now: · In the past, most children didn't go to school at all.· Women were not allowed to vote or own property in the past.
use this to talk about a long time ago in your life, or in your parents' or grandparents' lives, when things were different: · My great grandfather earned £5 a week, which was a lot of money in those days.· In the old days there was no bridge over the river, and we crossed it by boat.in the good old days (=at a time when you think that things were better than now): · In the good old days people showed more respect to the older generation.
at a time before you were born, especially hundreds of years ago: · The children all wanted to know what life was like in the olden days.
written in the past, before the present situation existed: · The local school was formerly a hospital.· Peru was formerly ruled by the Spanish.
rarely/not often not at all often. Seldom is more formal than rarely and is used especially in written English: · The Queen rarely speaks to journalists.· Discipline is rarely a problem in this school.· They're a very nice young couple, although I very seldom see them.rarely does/has somebody: · Very rarely do we have a complaint from any of our customers.· Seldom have I seen such a miraculous recovery in one of my patients.rarely/seldom, if ever: · Anti-government demonstrations do occur, but they are seldom, if ever, reported in the press.
· I don't often see my grandchildren.· Sometimes, but not very often, Pippa persuaded her father to lend her his car.· Tina didn't get to work until ten o'clock this morning, which is unusual because she's not often late.it's not often (that) · Of course I'm going to take the job, it's not often that you get a chance like this.
almost never: · My grandmother hardly ever goes out of the house.· She's hardly ever ill.· We scarcely ever walk through the town without meeting someone we know.· There used to be a lot of disputes over land boundaries but nowadays such problems scarcely ever arise.
informal extremely rarely: · I used to spend a lot of time in London, but now I only go there once in a blue moon.· Once in a blue moon Eric will offer to help with the dishes, but usually he doesn't do any housework at all.
sometimes on some occasions, but not always: · Sometimes I drive to work and sometimes I walk.· Traffic noise is sometimes a problem.· The journey takes about an hour, sometimes even longer.· Injuries of this type sometimes take a long time to heal.
use this to talk about something that only happens a few times, and does not happen often: · Occasionally we go out to restaurants, but mostly we eat at home.· Kay's moods sometimes made life difficult, and occasionally impossible.very occasionally (=not at all often): · He lives in Australia now, so we only see him very occasionally.
at fairly regular periods but not often: · Every so often, Frank looked up at me and smiled.· The silence was broken every so often by the sound of guns in the distance.
sometimes but not at all often: · It would be nice if we could see each other once in a while.· Teaching art can be fairly dull, but once in a while I come across a talent that really excites me.every once in a while (=fairly rarely): · Every once in a while he disappears for days on end.
if something happens at times , it happens on particular occasions but it is not normal or typical of what usually happens: · In a job like this, you're bound to feel a little stressed at times.· At times even the most talented athletes lose their motivation.
use this to talk about something that sometimes happens that is different from what happens most of the time: · I wear hats now and again, but they don't really suit me.· Now and then she would check on the baby sleeping in the next room.every now and again/every now and then: · Every now and again a passenger would pass through the carriage on the way to the bathroom.
sometimes, but not at all regularly and not very often: · This is the kind of problem that we all have from time to time.· From time to time a helicopter flew by, but mostly the sky remained clear.
especially spoken for short periods, but not continuously or regularly, over a long period of time: · We've been going out together for five years, off and on. · I worked in bars on and off for two years before I decided to go back to college.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Paul’s been to Wexford once before. It was sad to see the once-great man looking so frail. the once-mighty steel industryCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES It’s the sort of opportunity you see only once in a lifetime.
Paul’s been to Wexford once before. British English spoken Mrs Peterson came in to see Ruth just the once.
Mrs Peterson came in to see Ruth just the once. It was sad to see the once-great man looking so frail. the once-mighty steel industry (=used to emphasize that something has happened several or many times before) In 1997, the family moved house yet again. Once again, Drew was under arrest.
In 1997, the family moved house yet again. Once again, Drew was under arrest. It’s the sort of opportunity you see only once in a lifetime. (=a very good opportunity that you will only get once)· For many athletes, the Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· Roland had once asked her if he could help in the garden, in exchange for the right to sit there sometimes.· Tex Schram was once asked why his Dallas Cowboys fell apart after almost a quarter of a century of football success.· He remembered that his father had not once asked whether Tess had money or not.· My mother is worried about Beate, but she has never once asked me how I have managed.· She once asked him outright if he were homosexual.· The nun had once asked him please, Mr Mayor, come out there and see how the people are suffering.· I was asked once if it seemed real to me that one day I would be lifeless inside it.· Rudi once asked the class to comment on a passage he had assigned.
· I seem to have mislaid all the friends who once called me Nigel.· The pilots called once before crossing the pass to say that the visibility was almost zero, but they could make it.· He once called liberalism a form of bigotry, but he did not particularly mind being called a bigot himself.· This calls for good spirits and good morale and also a certain amount of what was once called dogged determination.· Mike had once called her a natural non-drinker, one who enjoyed neither the taste nor the effect.· The contrast could not be more stark between Spiro's Hollywood life-style and the North London suburb he once called home.
· Abraham once told me that Ishmael would be the beginning of a nation - now I believe him.· You once told me you wanted to.· And he didn't once tell me he loved me.· Some one once told me you had died.· He once told me that he found a company of not more than eleven people the most congenial.· As I once told you, I never knew where we were heading when I first drove out the Anacreonians.· He recalls once telling a group of students to clear their minds and observe what was going on in the room.· Some one once told me about him.
· No, you wouldn't because we've never met before, but once written, for ever smitten!· He once wrote Jefferson that Catholicism was Hindu and cabalistic.· Anne had once written a piece about prison conditions.· Drosnin is an investigative newspaper reporter who once wrote a best seller about Howard Hughes.· Alec Clegg once wrote a fable.· I once wrote a column suggesting that Gov.· BThe writer Stephen Dobyns once wrote a poem about Death disappearing for a time.· Dad once wrote in a letter to me.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► never once/not once► once a week/once every three months etc► once a ..., always a ...► once is/was enough► once bitten, twice shy► once more/once againPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► once bitten, twice shy► cousin once/twice etc removed
1on one occasion only: - All at once the trailer started shaking.
- All at once, she broke into a smile.
- Should we send the packages all at once?
- And with the slow-going afternoon the world all at once can make perfect sense.
- Employees at the plant are experiencing a-change overload. --- Changes came too fast and hit thern all at once.
- Father Timothy was kind and bad all at once.
- I have never seen so many injunctions all at once.
- Not all at once and not so anyone could tell.
- The cold in our house made it clear all at once.
- This is a distinctive and often very funny picture, disquieting and diverting all at once.
- I only see her every once in a while at school.
- All of these Helen used, displayed, wore, not once in a while, but every day, blushing.
- But look at them once in a while.
- He calls me once in a while or I call him.
- He just comes round once in a while and they go out.
- I do need to see every once in a while.
- I think you should change your shampoo and conditioner once in a while to avoid product build-up.
- I used to take him out fishing once in a while.
- They were both lonely, so why not see each other once in a while.
- But for once his famous ability to blend laughter and pain is overcome by the weight of his subject.
- But Holmes, for once, was wrong.
- In fact for once the human mussel-gatherers have come to the assistance of their natural competitors.
- Mrs Saulitis's cheerfulness was lost for once.
- Why not, for once, why not?
- You can't fault Ayckbourn's production but, for once, his comic vessel has problems carrying such emotionally heavy cargo.
- Let's settle this matter once and for all.
- I had to destroy, once and for all, the vicious circle of poverty and economic stagnation.
- I was perilously close to being touched once and for all.
- Jackson proved once and for all he was no longer the kid star of the Jackson Five days.
- No magic wand exists that can be waved once and for all to end injustice.
- Only by exploring these patterns, their causes and effects, is there any possibility of breaking them once and for all.
- Seismic tomography showed once and for all that the mantle was indeed in motion.
- This was supposed to be her final victory over him, supposed to establish her rule once and for all.
- Three blocks south, fancier houses in the 700 block of Commercial Street were shuttered once and for all.
- Once or twice, he thought about calling his parents, but then decided not to.
- And you have once or twice, haven't you?
- Even he himself had had to beat it into the ground once or twice as one did a snake.
- He'd been smashed on booze once or twice, but this was different.
- He played for Northern Ireland once or twice.
- He swallowed hard once or twice.
- He was some one I would probably sleep with once or twice and then maybe become friends with afterward.
- If needed, this can be repeated once or twice.
- They merely mentioned it once or twice as a divine possibility.
- OK, you can stay up till 11, but just this once.
- But the smiling man who clutched the real trophy after the game spoke, this once, for everyone.
- Carol told Petey this once to help him stop crying so she could take a look.
- Hadn't she seen something like this once before? she thought vaguely.
- He had sworn this once when he and Adrastus had quarreled and Eriphyle had reconciled them.
- Lawyers and supporters of the parents in Orkney questioned both the motives and the methods of this once trusted organisation.
- Maybe this once, the world will display itself as immutable.
- We've been through this once.
- We've done this once or twice before, as I vividly recall.
- Once upon a time children did what they were told.
- After all, it is once upon a time.
- However, once upon a time the mathematician was a child too.
- I'd have done anything for you once upon a time.
- One could spend a lifetime learning a small range of mountains, and once upon a time people did.
- Perhaps objects like these had been fashionable in churches once upon a time, but no longer, hence the attic.
- She might never have ironed shirts, but she too had once upon a time brought Jacob little surprises, little presents.
- There was, once upon a time, another book from which this kind of scientific certainty was derived.
- Once in a blue moon Eric will offer to help with the dishes, but usually he doesn't do any housework at all.
- I used to spend a lot of time in London, but now I only go there once in a blue moon.
- We go out to eat once in a blue moon.
- And Eleanor was damn lucky to have him as an escort once in a blue moon.
- So now he just comes round once in a blue moon.
- That happens only once in a blue moon, when the weather is cold enough and thus the ice thick enough.
- The kids rang Brant's doorbell once too often, and he reported them to the police.
- But not Luke Denner - he's humiliated me once too often!
- He'd said it once too often, and this time she'd taken him at his word.
- He got into trouble once too often and wound up in continuation school.
- I can only assume she tried once too often to enter the nest, as the female died during the night.
- It had failed him in a crisis and that was once too often.
- Maybe she just turned him down once too often.
- One of these people had looked in my direction once too often, passed by once again just a little too slowly.
- Until, that is, it lived up to its original name once too often!
- Anyone know the answer? Don't all shout at once, put your hand up.
- Everyone knew at once how serious the situation was.
- I can't do two things at once!
- I can't understand what you're saying when you both talk at once.
- You're trying to do too many things at once.
- You can't have three weeks' holiday all at once, you'll have to take them separately.
- Once more the soldiers attacked.
- Try calling her once more.
- And after the computer once more refuses to load the game, you type mouse. exe at the Cprompt.
- He settled once more on the ceiling.
- Instead, the Packers are thriving, proving once more that sound management is the most significant factor in sports.
- It remains only for these new actors to play it out once more.
- The sequence Coincides again after 260 days and the new Sacred Round begins with 1 Imix once more.
- The voices and noise around them became apparent once more, a tide of excited news, a civilized clamor.
- Their electron traps are bleached during transport but after sedimentation and burial they begin to accumulate electrons once more.
- Tireless, she came back once more and was condemned to death.
- Brian X. They'd pull him in and give him the once-over.
- Could you give it a once-over?
- I wait patiently whilst he gives me the once-over.
I’ve only met her once. Paul’s been to Wexford once before.(just) the once British English spoken Mrs Peterson came in to see Ruth just the once.2once a week/once every three months etc one time every week etc, as a regular activity or event: Staff meetings take place once a week. They took separate holidays at least once every two years.3at some time in the past, but not now: Sonya and Ida had once been close friends. She and her husband had once owned a house like this.once-great/proud etc It was sad to see the once-great man looking so frail. the once-mighty steel industry4in the past, at a time that is not stated: I once ran 21 miles. Marx once described religion as the ‘opium of the people’.5at once a)immediately or without delay: Now, go upstairs at once and clean your room! When I saw him I recognized him at once. b)together, at the same time: I can’t do two things at once! Don’t all talk at once.RegisterIn everyday English, when people mean 'immediately', they usually say right away or, in British English, straight away rather than at once:· I recognized him right away.6once more/once again a)again, after happening several times before: I looked at myself in the mirror once more. Once again she’s refusing to help. b)used to say that a situation changes back to its previous state: The crowds had all gone home and the street was quiet once more. c)formal used before you repeat something that you said before: Once again, it must be stressed that the pilot was not to blame.7all at once a)if something happens all at once, it happens suddenly when you are not expecting it: All at once there was a loud banging on the door. b)together, at the same time: A lot of practical details needed to be attended to all at once.8(every) once in a while sometimes, although not often: I do get a little anxious once in a while. I saw her in the shop every once in a while.9never once/not once used to emphasize that something has never happened: I never once saw him get angry or upset. Not once did they finish a job properly.10(just) for once used to say that something unusual happens, especially when you wish it would happen more often: Be honest for once. Just for once, let me make my own decision. For once Colin was speechless.11once and for all a)if you deal with something once and for all, you deal with it completely and finally: Let’s settle this matter once and for all. b)British English spoken used to emphasize your impatience when you ask or say something that you have asked or said many times before: Once and for all, will you switch off that television!12once or twice a few times: I wrote to him once or twice, but he didn’t answer.13(just) this once spoken used to emphasize that this is the only time you are allowing something, asking for something etc, and it will not happen again: Go on, lend me the car, just this once. I’ll make an exception this once.14once upon a time a)spoken at a time in the past that you think was much better than now: Once upon a time you used to be able to leave your front door unlocked. b)a long time ago – used at the beginning of children’s stories15once in a blue moon informal very rarely: It only happens like this once in a blue moon.16do something once too often to repeat a bad, stupid, or dangerous action with the result that you get punished or cause trouble for yourself: He tried that trick once too often and in the end they caught him.17once a ..., always a ... spoken used to say that people stay the same and cannot change the way they behave and think: Once a thief, always a thief.18once is/was enough spoken used to say that after you have done something one time you do not need or want to do it again19once bitten, twice shy used to say that people will not do something again if it has been a bad experienceonce1 adverbonce2 conjunction
onceonce2 ●●● S1 W1 conjunction EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Once in the US, the drugs are distributed to all the major cities.
- I called Lara once he'd left.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES It’s the sort of opportunity you see only once in a lifetime.
(=used to emphasize that something has happened several or many times before) In 1997, the family moved house yet again. Once again, Drew was under arrest.
In 1997, the family moved house yet again. Once again, Drew was under arrest. It’s the sort of opportunity you see only once in a lifetime. (=a very good opportunity that you will only get once)· For many athletes, the Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► once bitten, twice shy► cousin once/twice etc removed
from the time when something happens: - Once more the soldiers attacked.
- Try calling her once more.
- And after the computer once more refuses to load the game, you type mouse. exe at the Cprompt.
- He settled once more on the ceiling.
- Instead, the Packers are thriving, proving once more that sound management is the most significant factor in sports.
- It remains only for these new actors to play it out once more.
- The sequence Coincides again after 260 days and the new Sacred Round begins with 1 Imix once more.
- The voices and noise around them became apparent once more, a tide of excited news, a civilized clamor.
- Their electron traps are bleached during transport but after sedimentation and burial they begin to accumulate electrons once more.
- Tireless, she came back once more and was condemned to death.
- Brian X. They'd pull him in and give him the once-over.
- Could you give it a once-over?
- I wait patiently whilst he gives me the once-over.
Once I get him a job, he’ll be fine. Once in bed, the children usually stay there.