ONCE | Meaning, Definition In Cambridge English Dictionary

Meaning of once in English onceadverb uk /wʌns/ us /wʌns/

once adverb (ONE TIME)

Add to word list Add to word list A2 one single time: I went sailing once, but I didn't like it. We have lunch together once a month.  at once C1 at the same time: They all started talking at once.  for once B2 used when something happens that does not usually happen: For once, the bus came on time.  just this once used to say that you will only do or request something on this particular occasion: All right, I'll lend you the money - just this once.  once again (also once more) B1 again, as has happened before: Once again, racist attacks are increasing across Europe.  once more B1 one more time: I'd like to visit the campus once more before we leave. again, as has happened before: When my father came home, everything felt right once more.  once or twice a few times: I've seen him once or twice in town.  (every) once in a while B2 sometimes but not often: We meet for lunch once in a while.  once and for all C2 completely and in a way that will finally solve a problem: Our intention is to destroy their offensive capability once and for all.  once in a lifetime only likely to happen once in a person's life: An opportunity as good as this arises once in a lifetime. See also once-in-a-lifetime  the once UK on a single occasion: I've only played rugby the once, and I never want to play it again.

• I go to aerobics once a week.
• I did meet him once and it was an experience I shall never forget.
• The baby only feeds once a night at the moment, thank goodness.
• If I look flustered it's because I'm trying to do so many things at once.
• She's decided to write her memoirs to set the record straight once and for all.

Rarely & infrequently

• (every) now and then/again idiom
• blue moon
• day
• episodic
• ever and anon
• every
• few
• fit
• isolated
• it's not every day (that)... idiom
• like ships that pass in the night idiom
• occasion
• occasional
• odd
• one-off
• one-shot
• one-time
• rarely
• seldom
• time

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Simultaneous and consecutive Points in time Continually & repeatedly Complete and whole Unique and unusual

once adverb (PAST)

B1 in the past, but not now: This house once belonged to my grandfather. Computers are much cheaper nowadays than they once were. Once-thriving villages stand deserted and in ruins.

• Turkey was once an important colonial power.
• England was once a densely wooded country.
• Cancer sufferers no longer face certain death as they once did.
• Shops of this type, once rare, are now numerous.
• An article on this topic would once have been considered off limits.

In the past

• ago
• ancient history
• any more idiom
• anymore
• back in the day idiom
• bygone
• departed
• dim
• flood
• last night
• lately
• latterly
• many moons ago idiom
• mist
• recently
• retro
• rewind the clock idiom
• sometime
• status quo ante
• the mists of time idiom

See more results »

Grammar

OnceOnce is an adverb or conjunction. … Once as an adverbWe use once as an adverb to mean ‘one single time’: … Once as a conjunctionWe use once as a conjunction meaning ‘as soon as’ or ‘after’: …

Idiom

once upon a time onceconjunction uk /wʌns/ us /wʌns/ B2 as soon as, or from the moment when: Once I've found somewhere to live I'll send you my address. Remember that you won't be able to cancel the contract once you've signed.  at once B1 immediately: I knew at once that I'd like it here. without delay or waiting

• immediatelyPlease report to the office immediately.
• nowI need you to get me that report now.
• right nowYou put that back right now.
• right awayIf you're going to call the doctor, you'd better do it right away - the office is closing in two minutes.
• straight awayI called them back straight away.

See more results »

• Decoding the paintings is not difficult once you know what the component parts symbolize.
• You'll feel better once you've got some hot soup down you.
• We can't afford to make any false moves once we're in enemy territory.
• Fourteen miles is further than you'd think once you start to run it.
• My new hiking boots will be great once I've broken them in.

Simultaneous and consecutive

• accompanied by someone/something
• accompaniment
• accompany
• all the while idiom
• along
• fly
• go along phrasal verb
• heavy rotation
• in parallel idiom
• in rotation idiom
• in tandem idiom
• minute
• row
• simultaneously
• simultaneousness
• soon
• step
• straight
• successive
• turn

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Immediately

Grammar

OnceOnce is an adverb or conjunction. … Once as an adverbWe use once as an adverb to mean ‘one single time’: … Once as a conjunctionWe use once as a conjunction meaning ‘as soon as’ or ‘after’: …

Idioms

all at once once bitten, twice shy (Definition of once from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

once | American Dictionary

onceadverb [ not gradable ] us /wʌns/

once adverb [not gradable] (AT ONE TIME)

Add to word list Add to word list on or at a single time: I went to Disney World once. The book club meets once a month. Going to the Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (= a rare and valuable one).

once adverb [not gradable] (IN THE PAST)

in the past, but not now: I lived in Milwaukee once. Computers are much cheaper now than they once were.

Idioms

at once once and for all once in a blue moon (every) once in a while once more onceconjunction us /wʌns/

once conjunction (AS SOON AS)

as soon as, or when: Once you’ve tried their ice cream, you’ll be back for more. (Definition of once from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of once

once Most disturbing is the finding that once players learn that their opponent has either cooperated or defected, almost all defect. From the Cambridge English Corpus Individual ocelots were photographed as many as 17 times during the cumulative 2-y survey period, though many were recorded only once. From the Cambridge English Corpus The pieces of maize stems were replaced once every two days. From the Cambridge English Corpus Most genotypes recovered in this study occurred only once (25 of 40 genotypes; 62.5%). From the Cambridge English Corpus Once determined that the intersected point belongs to visible surfaces, it is necessary to determine if the point detected is within the parallelepiped boundaries. From the Cambridge English Corpus Rate of taper could be slowed once for every 3-day decrement if re-emergent symptoms were too severe for patients to go on. From the Cambridge English Corpus Holmes once again effectively examines gendered language in the workplace and provides clear ties to current theoretical frameworks. From the Cambridge English Corpus In this book several main themes are at once apparent. From the Cambridge English Corpus Thus, once the partitioning of the domain is done, the determination of the 'best' function is straightforward. From the Cambridge English Corpus Once again, the stimulus will be sufficient to force the correct perception. From the Cambridge English Corpus These relations are thus indicated twice: once for the human and once for the computer. From the Cambridge English Corpus They can then be easily picked up with a small moistened paint-brush and transferred at once to the alcohol in the collecting tubes. From the Cambridge English Corpus Others re-visited once or twice in the first 3 months and then ceased visiting unless problems were thought likely to occur. From the Cambridge English Corpus The author also visited every ward once a month at an agreed time and met with at least one of the contact persons. From the Cambridge English Corpus Once again, a major challenge ahead is exploration of the adjustment of tactic choice that may have been selected by varying selection pressures. From the Cambridge English Corpus See all examples of once These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors. What is the pronunciation of once?

Translations of once

in Chinese (Traditional) 一次, 一次，一回, 過去… See more in Chinese (Simplified) 一次, 一次，一回, 过去… See more in Spanish una vez, antes, en cuanto… See more in Portuguese uma vez, já, assim que… See more in Marathi in Japanese in Turkish in French in Catalan in Dutch in Tamil in Hindi in Gujarati in Danish in Swedish in Malay in German in Norwegian in Urdu in Ukrainian in Telugu in Bengali in Czech in Indonesian in Thai in Vietnamese in Polish in Korean in Italian एकदा, पुर्वी एकदा, एकेकाळी… See more 一度, かつて, ～するとすぐに… See more bir defa, bir kez, bir zamanlar… See more une fois, autrefois, une fois que… See more una vegada, abans, tan bon punt… See more eens, eenmaal… See more ஒரே ஒரு முறை, கடந்த காலத்தில், ஆனால் இப்போது இல்லை… See more एक बार, (अतीत में) कभी, पहले… See more એક વાર, એક વખત, બને તેટલું જલ્દી… See more én gang, engang, da… See more en gång, en gång i tiden, när … väl… See more sekali, pernah, sebaik sahaja… See more einmal, einst, sobald… See more én gang, en gang, en gang i tiden… See more ایک بار, کبھی, کسی وقت… See more раз, один раз, колись… See more ఒకసారి/ఒకప్పుడు, ఒకప్పుడు/ గతంలో, కానీ ఇప్పుడు కాదు… See more একদা, একক সময়, আগে একসময়ে… See more jednou, kdysi, jakmile jednou… See more sekali, dulu, segera setelah… See more หนึ่งครั้ง, ครั้งหนึ่ง, ทันทีที่… See more một lần, đã từng, khi… See more raz, kiedyś, jak tylko… See more 한번, 과거에, -하자마자… See more una volta, in passato, una volta che… See more Need a translator?

Get a quick, free translation!

Translator tool

Browse

on/from the sidelines idiom on/under pain of death idiom onboard onboarding once once again phrase once and for all idiom once bitten, twice shy idiom once in a blue moon idiom {{#randomImageQuizHook.filename}} {{#randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes Try a quiz now {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{^randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.filename}}

More meanings of once

• once-over
• once-in-a-lifetime
• at once idiom
• (every) once in a while idiom
• once and for all idiom
• once in a blue moon idiom
• once more idiom

See all meanings

• at once idiom
• (every) once in a while idiom
• once and for all idiom
• once in a blue moon idiom
• once more idiom
• once again phrase
• all at once idiom

See all idioms and phrases

Word of the Day

be as fresh as a daisy

to be full of energy and enthusiasm

About this

Blog

The beginning of the end? Phrases with ‘end’ (2)

December 10, 2025 Read More

New Words

vibe working December 08, 2025 More new words has been added to list To top AI Assistant Contents EnglishAmericanExamplesTranslations AI Assistant {{#displayLoginPopup}} Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Learn more with +Plus

Sign up for free and get access to exclusive content: Free word lists and quizzes from Cambridge Tools to create your own word lists and quizzes Word lists shared by our community of dictionary fans Sign up now or Log in Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Learn more with +Plus

Create word lists and quizzes for free Sign up now or Log in {{/displayLoginPopup}} {{#displayClassicSurvey}} {{/displayClassicSurvey}}

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus
• My profile
• +Plus help
• Log out

AI Assistant Dictionary Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English Translations Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. Bilingual Dictionaries English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English English–Danish Danish–English English–Dutch Dutch–English English–French French–English English–German German–English English–Indonesian Indonesian–English English–Italian Italian–English English–Japanese Japanese–English English–Norwegian Norwegian–English English–Polish Polish–English English–Portuguese Portuguese–English English–Spanish Spanish–English English–Swedish Swedish–English Semi-bilingual Dictionaries English–Arabic English–Bengali English–Catalan English–Czech English–Gujarati English–Hindi English–Korean English–Malay English–Marathi English–Russian English–Tamil English–Telugu English–Thai English–Turkish English–Ukrainian English–Urdu English–Vietnamese Translate Grammar Thesaurus Pronunciation Cambridge Dictionary +Plus Games {{userName}}

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus
• My profile
• +Plus help
• Log out

Log in / Sign up English (UK) Change English (UK) English (US) Español Português 中文 (简体) 正體中文 (繁體) Dansk Deutsch Français Italiano Nederlands Norsk Polski Русский Türkçe Tiếng Việt Svenska Українська 日本語 한국어 ગુજરાતી தமிழ் తెలుగు বাঙ্গালি मराठी हिंदी Follow us Choose a dictionary

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• Translation Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. Bilingual Dictionaries
  • English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
  • English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
  • English–Danish Danish–English
  • English–Dutch Dutch–English
  • English–French French–English
  • English–German German–English
  • English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
  • English–Italian Italian–English
  • English–Japanese Japanese–English
  • English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
  • English–Polish Polish–English
  • English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
  • English–Spanish Spanish–English
  • English–Swedish Swedish–English
  Semi-bilingual Dictionaries English–Arabic English–Bengali English–Catalan English–Czech English–Gujarati English–Hindi English–Korean English–Malay English–Marathi English–Russian English–Tamil English–Telugu English–Thai English–Turkish English–Ukrainian English–Urdu English–Vietnamese
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists

Choose your language English (UK) English (US) Español Português 中文 (简体) 正體中文 (繁體) Dansk Deutsch Français Italiano Nederlands Norsk Polski Русский Türkçe Tiếng Việt Svenska Українська 日本語 한국어 ગુજરાતી தமிழ் తెలుగు বাঙ্গালি मराठी हिंदी Contents

• English   
  • Adverb 
    • once (ONE TIME)
    • at once
    • for once
    • just this once
    • once again
    • once more
    • once or twice
    • (every) once in a while
    • once and for all
    • once in a lifetime
    • the once
    • once (PAST)
  • Conjunction 
    • once
    • at once
• American   
  • Adverb 
    • once (AT ONE TIME)
    • once (IN THE PAST)
  • Conjunction 
    • once (AS SOON AS)
• Examples

• Translations
• Grammar
• All translations

My word lists

To add once to a word list please sign up or log in.

Sign up or Log in My word lists

Add once to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{#verifyErrors}}

{{message}}

{{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{#message}}

{{message}}

{{/message}} {{^message}}

Something went wrong.

{{/message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{name}} More Go to your word lists {{#verifyErrors}}

{{message}}

{{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{#message}}

{{message}}

{{/message}} {{^message}}

Something went wrong.

{{/message}} {{/verifyErrors}} Tell us about this example sentence: The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. The sentence contains offensive content. Cancel Submit Thanks! Your feedback will be reviewed. {{#verifyErrors}}

{{message}}

{{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{#message}}

{{message}}

{{/message}} {{^message}}

There was a problem sending your report.

{{/message}} {{/verifyErrors}} The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. The sentence contains offensive content. Cancel Submit Thanks! Your feedback will be reviewed. {{#verifyErrors}}

{{message}}

{{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{#message}}

{{message}}

{{/message}} {{^message}}

There was a problem sending your report.

{{/message}} {{/verifyErrors}}