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# once

«once» in Mova's school dictionary: **one time** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adverb (once); conjunction (once); noun (the once — casual)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Once means one time. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#m1)

2) Once means at some time in the past: «Once there was a king». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#m2)

3) Once can also mean «as soon as»: «Once you finish, you can play». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#m3)

4) «At once» means now, right away, or at the same time. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#m4)

5) (casual) «For once» means this time, unlike usual, often with a complaint: «Be on time for once!» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#m5)

6) (casual, UK, Ireland) «The once» means one time only: «I only did it the once.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#m6)

7) (formal) «Upon» and «subsequent to» replace «once» in stiff writing: «Upon completion of the task…» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#m7)

8) «Once-over» (informal) is a quick look: «give it the once-over». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#m8)

### sense in the lessons

In maths: one time; «once a week» gives a rate; «once she had…» starts a step. In everyday life: «once a day», «once in a while», «just this once». In stories: «Once upon a time» begins fairy tales. In science: «once the water boils» marks a step. In casual talk: «for once», «once and for all». In the exam voice: «upon reaching», «on a single occasion». Phrases: «once more», «once again», «all at once», «once in a blue moon» (very rarely), «once and for all».

### examples

- She visits her grandma once a week. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x1)
- He ran around the track once. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x2)
- Once he had 10 stamps, he stopped. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x3)
- Once upon a time there lived a little fox. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x4)
- Come here at once! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x5)
- Once the ice melts, the water level rises. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x6)
- I have been to London once. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x7)
- Just this once, you can stay up late. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x8)
- tidy your room for once, it's a tip (casual, annoyed) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x9)
- I only went the once, honest (casual, UK) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x10)
- Shut up and listen for once in your life. (rough) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x11)
- A pupil visits the library on a single occasion per week; determine the number of visits over a period of 9 weeks. (formal exam) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x12)
- Go and behead him at once. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/#x13)

### note

«Once» = 1 time; «once a week» is a rate (1 per week). Trap: «twice» = 2 times, «once» = 1, not zero. Sounds like «wunce». «At once» can mean «immediately» or «all together», so read the sentence. «Once more» means one more time. «For once» is usually a complaint, not a count. «Once in a blue moon» = very rarely, not a number. Formal «on a single occasion» = once.

### In the corpora

- [Starting a new job means learning new systems, names and rules all at once, so people come home tired.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/3-finding-a-job-and-getting-on/18/)
- [Payday is the day pay arrives in the bank, often once a month, so money is usually lowest just before it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/5-where-money-comes-from/6/)
- [Moving means packing everything, doing paperwork and saying goodbye all at once, so it is very stressful.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/10-moving-house-and-renting-a-home/17/)
- [Tenants who cannot get a repair done may complain more than once or ask the council for help.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/11-when-things-break/12/)
- [One coat of paint often looks patchy, so a second coat is painted on once the first is dry.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/11-when-things-break/13/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «once» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/once/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.