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.
Stripping out certain one-time items, adjusted earnings were $3.43 a share.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
Gutiérrez and Vargas started their international careers representing Team USA at youth level, but FIFA’s one-time switch rule allowed them to change allegiances.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026
These ideas weren’t limited to this one-time gathering.
From Salon • Jun. 29, 2026
With China in particular racing to develop its tech industry, Seoul sees the boom period as a "one-time opportunity" to close the gap, said Lian Jye Su, a chief analyst at Omdia.
From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026
It turned out that the Soviet one-time pad system had a weakness.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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.
