once in a while

Idioms

Occasionally, not very often, as in Once in a while I enjoy going fishing. [Mid-1800s] Also see every now and then; from time to time.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

once in a while

Is disconnected eating happening once in a while, or is it the status quo for most meals?

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

Better yet, maybe call out something you admire once in a while.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

Every once in a while a character will attempt to explain things, addressing questions you might have.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

A question I used to hear once in a while has become one of the most common requests on my desk.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026

Every once in a while, someone tosses coins in my direction.

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023