all at once
Idioms-
All at the same time, as in We can't get inside all at once, so please wait your turn . [Late 1300s]
-
Suddenly, unexpectedly, as in All at once the sky darkened . For a synonym, see all of a sudden .
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.
In the space of a single week, midfielder Enzo Fernandez managed the exceptional feat of all at once alienating millions of people from around the globe, including his own nation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Taking a 6.6% 30-year mortgage would be the better choice than withdrawing $500,000 from a traditional IRA all at once.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
"Energy knock-on effects rarely arrive all at once," he wrote.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
"Goals are like ketchup. When they come, they come all at once," he said.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
Now extremely awake, the princess glared all around, looking confused, scared, and pained all at once.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
