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.
The study shows that subduction zones do not fail all at once.
From Science Daily • Apr. 29, 2026
It’s salty, sweet and crunchy, all at once.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026
“But rates dipped just before the war, and everyone seemed to come out all at once to bid for homes that had been on the market for over 20 days.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
These days, Martinez prefers to top off her tank long before it is empty, not wanting to spend the $80 a full tank costs all at once.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
Then, unbelievably, the darkness lifted all at once.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
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.
