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]
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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.
If you’re young, you want it all at once; it’s human nature.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026
A half reason is that newly traded stocks won’t hit index funds all at once.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
That’s easier than asking people to commit to something very long all at once.
From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026
The space, which stretches as far as the eye can see, looks like an office, a showroom, a library and a decaying home all at once.
From Salon • May 30, 2026
One bird singing is bearable but not with the other sounds happening all at once.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
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.
