adjective
adverb
Etymology
Origin of one-time
First recorded in 1880–85
Explanation
Use the adjective one-time to mean "long ago" or "former." For example, a one-time movie star was famous in the past, but might not be recognized today. A one-time chess champion might have won competitions years and years ago. A one-time international spy may have had exciting adventures in her youth, although today she could very well be an unassuming elderly lady. The one-time star of a basketball team isn't anymore, and a one-time dog owner might have switched to keeping cats instead.
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.
Special assessments, one-time fees that condo owners pay to fund big expenses, are also on the rise.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
Cloobeck, 64, is a one-time California gubernatorial candidate and a well-known figure in Democratic politics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
“Is this just a one-time event, or what we would call ‘normal?’” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Stripping out one-time items, earnings came in at $1.92 a share.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
To decode the message, the receiver finds the correct one-time sheet.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
