twice

American  

[twahys] / twaɪs /

adverb

1. two times, as in succession.

   Write twice a week.

2. on two occasions; in two instances.

   I phoned him twice.

3. in twofold quantity or degree; in double the amount or degree.

   twice as much.

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twice British  

/ twaɪs /

adverb

1. two times; on two occasions or in two cases

   he coughed twice

2. double in degree or quantity

   twice as long

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twice Idioms  

1. see cheap at twice the price; lightning never strikes twice; once bitten, twice shy; think twice.

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Etymology

Origin of twice

before 1150; Middle English twies, equivalent to twie twice ( Old English twige, cognate with Old Frisian twīa, Old Saxon tuuīo; twi- ) + -s -s ¹

Example Sentences

As head of the order, before becoming pope, the former Robert Francis Prevost twice visited Algeria.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

“But he said no cows. He might have been traumatized by the early mornings and milking twice a day.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

One 32-year-old Chinese seafarer on a ship stuck in the Persian Gulf said his captain has twice refused orders from the shipowner to cross the strait.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Qatar’s Ras Laffan oil-and-gas complex, for example, may require years of repairs to restore 17% of its damaged capacity, while Bahrain’s Sitra refinery was struck twice, JPMorgan’s team said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

Dad has called twice and left a string of worried texts.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila