once
/wʌns
/adverb
1On one occasion or for one time only: they deliver once a week (as noun the once) informal he’d only met her the once...
- The defeat means Sweden have still only once been past the second round stage since 1974.
- Instead of delivering twice a day, including in the morning, it now delivers once, at lunchtime.
- More than once Walt has caught her talking to herself when in fact she was speaking to Fred.
Synonyms
on one occasion, one time, one single time
1.1 (usually with negative or if) On even one occasion; at all (used for emphasis): he never once complained if she once got an idea in her head you’d never move it...
- By midday, Ashley was tired, hungry and her back was throbbing, but she never once complained.
- Not once has my doctor ever bothered to ask me about what I eat or if I exercise.
- Otherwise, the game is remarkably stable - didn't crash once on my machine.
Synonyms
ever, at any time, on any occasion, at all, under any circumstances, on any account, in a million years
2At some time in the past; formerly: Gran had once been a famous singer...
- It was a strange and eerie feeling riding through the near deserted streets of this once great city that I had read and seen so many films about.
- The field was once part of a terrace of the Whitton Dene manor house and it seems that the trouble began when it was filled in with material to even it out.
- Think of someone who was once young and vital, now old, battered, semi-literate and living off the social.
3Multiplied by one: once two is two
conjunction
As soon as; when: once the grapes were pressed, the juice was put into barrels...
- I will comment further on this once I have had a chance to fully digest it myself.
- And who is there to offer support for the homeless once Christmas is over?
- The Echo will publish information on the community petition once details are finalised.
Synonyms
as soon as, when, after, immediately after, the instant/moment/second/minute
British informal immediately
Phrases
all at once
at once
for once (or this once)
once a ——, always a ——
once again (or more)
once and for all (or once for all)
once and future
once bitten, twice shy
once (or every once) in a while
once or twice
once upon a time
Origin
Middle English ones, genitive of one. The spelling change in the 16th century was in order to retain the unvoiced sound of the final consonant.