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once

/wəns/
/wəns/
IPA guide

Other forms: onces

If you try a new food one time and decide to never have it again, then you've only had it once, or one time.

The word once has several meanings, each conveying the idea of something happening just one time. It can mean "on one occasion," like trying something only once to see if you like it. Once can also refer to something in the past that’s no longer true, as in, "I once lived there." Additionally, it can mean "as soon as," like "once you finish, we’ll leave." Each use of once describes a unique moment — whether one-time, past, or immediate.

Definitions of once
  1. adverb
    on one occasion
    once I ran into her”
    synonyms: in one case, one time
  2. adverb
    at a previous time
    “she was a dancer once
  3. conjunction
    as soon as
Pronunciation
US
/wəns/
UK
/wəns/
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