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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of once
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2026
An underdog with a bite Faulkner was once a quarterback standing 5-foot-nothing with a 10-cent arm but a million-dollar head with a brain like a sponge.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
The once grand Art Deco hotel is owned by an LLC called St. George Hotel Associate, which is also responsible for maintaining the Clark Street stop under an agreement with the MTA.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for once
Adverb
The network has once again started airing curling, which will appear on the network every day through February 21, when the gold medal game is played.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2026
An underdog with a bite Faulkner was once a quarterback standing 5-foot-nothing with a 10-cent arm but a million-dollar head with a brain like a sponge.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The once jet-setting, Oscar-winning movie producer has remained in custody at Rikers Island jail, and has frequently been hospitalized due to health issues.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
The once grand Art Deco hotel is owned by an LLC called St. George Hotel Associate, which is also responsible for maintaining the Clark Street stop under an agreement with the MTA.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for once
Recent Examples of Synonyms for once
Adverb
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The location at Persimmon Place just north of Interstate 580 features indoor and patio seating in a spot that formerly housed Patxi’s Pizza.—
Linda Zavoral,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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After the league phase wrapped up back in mid-December 2025, the UEFA Women’s Champions League returns with knockout playoff rounds with the best 12 teams remaining to compete for the league’s trophy (formerly known as the UEFA Women’s Cup).—
Rudie Obias,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The visit by Ali Larijani, a former Iranian parliament speaker who now serves as the secretary to the country's Supreme National Security Council, likely focused on what comes next after the initial round of indirect talks held last week in Muscat with the Americans.—
JON GAMBRELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
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The Lakers next play Thursday night here against the Mavericks, Doncic’s former team.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Given James is 41 years old, there was always going to be load management absences, especially on back-to-backs.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Brain game may reduce risk of Alzheimer’s A certain type of brain training appears to prevent or delay dementia by some 25% in people older than age 65.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Yakitori's menu also features several specialty items inspired by Chapman's soul food background, likely not found at other Japanese steakhouses.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Feb. 2026
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As for sales at Kering’s other brands, Saint Laurent was stable in Q4, marking another quarter of improvement, while Bottega Veneta was up 3%.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Directed and co-written by Alexandre Rockwell, the film follows an aspiring filmmaker (Steve Buscemi) who falls in with an irresistibly charming gangster (Seymour Cassel, who won Sundance’s first acting award) as his erstwhile producer.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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La Dolce Vita and the Minerva, which occupies the erstwhile palazzo of 17th-century aristocrats, debuted last April.—
Adam Erace,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Back then, the average team still featured three starters who threw enough innings to qualify for the ERA title, probably had an ace who blew past 200 innings and had multiple pitchers with double-digit wins.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Hamid had an eye toward bringing on another partner who’d be his counterpart, sounding board, and sometime foil.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Yet there’s also a lot of love in the doc, particularly in the generous passages that explore his friendship with Reiner (who died in 2020) and his singular bond with second wife and sometime leading lady Anne Bancroft, who’s been gone for more than two decades.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Other witnesses include Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who agreed to give depositions in late February.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
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From late 2018 to the end of 2020, Coppermark filed approximately 300 complaints.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Once.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/once. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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