Synonyms

once in a while

Idioms

Occasionally, not very often, as in Once in a while I enjoy going fishing. [Mid-1800s] Also see every now and then; from time to time.

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.

See Examples For:

once in a while

"It's OK to eat those craved foods once in a while in moderation."

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

But I have two rest days planned for next week, and I’m not upset at myself for falling into the old ways once in a while.

From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026

"I think every once in a while that maybe I should sell my house," she says, but adds her property value has plummeted.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026

“Our daughters remind us every once in a while that it’s not fair,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

It’s been happening frequently for as long as I can remember, but Ma tells me that these natural disasters only used to happen once in a while.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023