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.
A half reason is that newly traded stocks won’t hit index funds all at once.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
When you’re a kid, it arrives all at once: the last school bell, the first trip to the pool, the permission slip feeling of a completely unscheduled Tuesday.
From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026
It’s like trying to describe a song that exists all at once, without being performed, heard or unfolding.
From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026
That’s easier than asking people to commit to something very long all at once.
From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026
I said, “Hello, I’m Sophie Brown,” but my voice was quiet and squeaky and shaky all at once, and I thought for a minute about just turning and leaving.
From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones
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.
