once 1 of 3

adverb

ˈwən(t)s How to pronounce once (audio)
Definition of oncenext
as in formerly
at an earlier or previous time I once knew the quotation, but time has taken its toll on my brain cells

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

once

2 of 3

adjective

as in former
having been such at some previous time the once child star is now a lawyer in the entertainment industry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

once

3 of 3

conjunction

as in when
just at the moment that you should have stopped wrestling once you knew someone was getting hurt, not five minutes later

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of once
Adverb
The city’s once-popular shopping centers have been plagued with closures, sparking concern about public safety and homelessness. — Melody Xu, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 The most frightening risk is AI creators losing control of their models, a once abstract possibility that may be inching closer to reality. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Joseph Duggar's arrest is the latest fall from grace for the once picture-perfect Duggar family. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026 The once summer home became a residential dwelling once more. — Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
  1. formerly
  2. former
  3. old
  4. other
  5. erstwhile
  6. past
  7. sometime
  8. late
Adverb
  • The games between the Indianapolis Clowns and the Party Animals are scheduled for June 25-26 at Fifth Third Park (formerly Comerica Park).
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Kevin Roose, co-host of the upcoming NPR podcast Machine Gods, formerly The New York Times' Hard Fork, tracks the handful of characters racing to make AI a commercial reality.
    — Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of formerly
Adjective
  • Advertisement The following day, in a public conversation moderated by renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour, President Nataša Pirc Musar of Slovenia, former Irish President Mary Robinson and I reflected on the choices before humanity.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Following the simultaneous departures of former chiefs Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) and Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) at the end of last season, long-time fans might have expected another familiar face to take the helm.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of former
Adjective
  • The pickup’s driver, a 34-year-old woman from Garden City, Kansas, was taken into custody but was later released after police consulted with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
    — Maggie Vespa, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Melanie Lawrence, a 68-year-old independent, worries about wells going dry in her area near Willcox, where the groundwater grew so depleted that the land started to crack.
    — Hannah Knowles The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of old
Adjective
  • Levine did, however, receive a letter signed by over a dozen former Israeli security, intelligence and other officials, including former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, former Mossad director Tamir Pardo and former Shin Bet director Ami Ayalon.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Ten other people, ages 5 to 68, were also hit and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, Police Capt.
    — Maggie Vespa, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of other
Adjective
  • Below’s detour to Little Pot Rock wraps up quickly with little explanation for the erstwhile hag’s seemingly flesh-and-blood existence on the island, but something spooky’s going on with her for sure.
    — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The Project’s ranks now include about 80 fishermen manning 15 boats who also support the tagging and research of their erstwhile prey (their work has led to the recent world-first tagging of 10 tiger sharks in Indonesian waters).
    — Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of erstwhile
Adjective
  • But ahead of November's midterm election, Democrats in recent weeks have ramped up campaign ads hitting their GOP opponents for past opposition to releasing the Epstein files.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Entertainment icon Liza Minnelli, also a past honoree, will serve as honorary chair.
    — Paul Grein, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of past
Adjective
  • The uncertain status of TPS has led to sometime conflicting actions by government agencies or employers.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Titled Becky and Miranda, the series will be a dark comedy from veteran YouTube creator Nolke and co-star her sometime-collaborator Nicole Power (Kim’s Convenience).
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of sometime
Adjective
  • Coalition adviser Claude Ibalanky said at a news conference late Monday at Kabila's residence in the eastern city of Goma that the FRN's mission is to restore the pillars of a functioning republic.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The Bay Area rapper’s latest record boasts vivid scenes and careful character studies, backed by live instrumentation and occasionally staid samples.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of late

Phrases Containing once

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onanistic
once
once in a blue moon
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Cite this Entry

“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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