all at once

Idioms  

1. All at the same time, as in We can't get inside all at once, so please wait your turn . [Late 1300s]

2. Suddenly, unexpectedly, as in All at once the sky darkened . For a synonym, see all of a sudden .

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Example Sentences

All at once, my fond memories of Las Vegas were permanently condemned to the past.

From Slate • Nov. 18, 2025

“On Oct. 7, I woke up from the sirens in the center of Tel Aviv. All at once I was again in September 1939 when the Nazis invaded Poland,” he said.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 10, 2023

All at once I see the bright greens of the lawn and the blue of the ocean, and there’s Geffen standing at the end of this long pathway.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2023

All at once, young children like Ruby, together with college students like those Baldwin interviewed, enlisted in an epic struggle that would bring down the old racial order.

From Washington Post • Mar. 4, 2022

All at once, the pressure that had been building in the back of my mind released, sending a tingle racing down my spine.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

Related Words

• again
• formerly
• later
• next
• suddenly