at once

1. At the same time, as in We can't all fit into the boat at once . [First half of 1200s] Also see at one time , def. 1.

2. Immediately, as in Mother told the children to come inside at once . [First half of 1500s]

Example Sentences

Each bite tastes like a season in itself — sweet, comforting and stubbornly insistent that summer doesn’t have to leave all at once.

From Salon

"We went for a year – got all our holidays in at once before we had the children," Gemma says.

From BBC

While the fire initially burned eastward, firefighters soon reported that it was spreading “everywhere all at once” with wind gusts between 70-90 MPH.

From Los Angeles Times

In hindsight, the record is a departure mostly in the sense that the record demands listeners’ undivided attention and is best absorbed all at once.

From Salon

"I read the first four scripts all at once and it was a no-brainer," he says.

From BBC

Related Words

• directly 
• expeditiously 
• hastily 
• instantly 
• quickly 
• rapidly 
• speedily www.thesaurus.com
• swiftly