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.
More swings, more practice and more rounds, but over time, not all at once.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
Where long-simmered soups deepen gradually, these come alive all at once.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
“They are keeping it close to the vest what they are buying,” Buchta said, adding that Freddie and Fannie aren’t going to come in and purchase $200 billion all at once.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026
“Private markets mean private pricing, and bad news often happens all at once and the opacity and the leverage in the sector is concerning,” he added.
From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026
Depending on the level of the class, the switch to singing the song with all of its ostinati can be done all at once or by using a combination of spoken and sung.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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.
