all at once
Idioms-
All at the same time, as in We can't get inside all at once, so please wait your turn . [Late 1300s]
-
Suddenly, unexpectedly, as in All at once the sky darkened . For a synonym, see all of a sudden .
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.
A half reason is that newly traded stocks won’t hit index funds all at once.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
That’s easier than asking people to commit to something very long all at once.
From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026
SpaceX, in a somewhat unusual move, has introduced a plan to release “locked up” shares over time, rather than all at once.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
But in this system, researchers believe the star may have produced its planets sequentially rather than all at once.
From Science Daily • May 21, 2026
Slowly, and then all at once, the lab fills up with the sounds of human footsteps and human voices.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
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.
