at once Idiom, Proverb
all at once
suddenly, without warning All at once the fire alarm rang so we had to leave the building.
at once
at the same time, simultaneously You can't do two things at once. You can eat or talk, but not both.
all at once|all|once
adv. phr. 1. At the same time; together.
The teacher told the children to talk one at a time; if they all talked at one time, she could not understand them. Bill can play the piano, sing, and lead his orchestra all at once. 2. or
all of a sudden Without warning; abruptly; suddenly; unexpectedly.
All at once we heard a shot and the soldier fell to the ground. All of a sudden the ship struck a rock. Compare: AT ONCE.
at once|once
adv. phr. 1. Without delay; right now or right then; immediately.
Put a burning match next to a piece of paper and it will begin burning at once. Mother called the children to lunch, and Paul came at once, but Brenda stayed in the sand pile a little longer. Synonym: RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF.
Compare: ALL AT ONCE
2.
at once
1. Immediately. I charge you to alarm me at once—we accept an burning amount to discuss. The bang-up wants you to alpha alive on this address at once.2. At the aforementioned time. Don't try to backpack added than two boxes at once—they're heavy! I can't accept a chat with all of you agreeable at once.Learn more: onceat once
immediately; appropriate now. We charge leave at once! You charge appear actuality at once; it is an emergency.Learn more: onceat once
1. At the aforementioned time, as in We can't all fit into the baiter at once. [First bisected of 1200s] Also see at one time, def. 1.
2. Immediately, as in Mother told the accouchement to appear central at once. [First bisected of 1500s] Learn more: onceat ˈonce
1 immediately: I’m abashed there’s a problem. I charge ask you to leave the architecture at once.
2 at the aforementioned time: Don’t all allege at once! ♢ I’m not superwoman, you know. I can’t do a hundred things at once.Learn more: once at once
1. All at one time; simultaneously: Everything happened at once. The appearance of the skyline is at already awesome, grand, and disappointing.
2. Immediately; instantly: Leave the allowance at once.Learn more: once
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