once and for all

Idioms  

1. As a settled matter, finally, permanently, as in Once and for all, we're not hiring that organist again, or We've settled that question once and for all. This expression is in effect an abbreviation for “one time and for all time.” [Late 1400s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

once and for all

The 14th Amendment repudiated that old constitutional order once and for all, and now, as interpreted, declared that belonging would no longer depend on blood, lineage, or inherited status.

From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026

Caroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement that the Supreme Court's decision "affirms once and for all the jury's unanimous verdict that President Donald J Trump sexually assaulted and defamed E Jean Carroll".

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

"Let us celebrate. But let us not forget. And let us learn, once and for all, that war is a failure. Dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward," he said.

From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026

The whole point of their years of endeavor is to end it once and for all.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

Ulbricht proposed a way to solve the problem once and for all.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin