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; see twi-) + -s -s ¹

Example Sentences

According to the researchers, the largest St Kilda wrens are more than twice the size of the smallest wrens found on mainland Great Britain.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

Once the spears are gone, most of us dump the cloudy green brine straight down the sink without thinking twice about it.

From Salon • May 28, 2026

Fellow forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia played for the duration just twice in 28 matches.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

But investors may want to think twice before calling it a comeback, according to Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

“If they’d telephoned twice at the same time, maybe we could assume something about their work schedule. When the times are so different, it doesn’t seem to mean anything. But there is something else.”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse