at once
Idioms-
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.
-
Immediately, as in Mother told the children to come inside at once . [First half of 1500s]
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.
Insurers who have this double exposure earn income from their shares and interest on their loans to the funds, but can take deeper losses if enough of the loans in the fund default at once.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026
“American Trickster,” at more than 600 pages, is at once more information about Castaneda than any reader needs, and not nearly enough.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026
"Goals are like ketchup. When they come, they come all at once," he said.
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026
The former Google executive, who took the helm at the British Broadcasting Corporation a month ago, said the scale of the planned savings "requires tough choices, careful work and won't all be ready at once".
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
We held each other at arm’s length to look, we babbled questions all at once.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
