WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
all /ɔl/USA pronunciation   adj. [usually before a noun* but see definition 1]
  1. the whole or full amount of or number of: [~ + the + uncountable noun]She ate all the cake.[~ + some nouns of time]I waited for her call all afternoon.[~ (+ the) + plural noun]all (the) students.[after the subject of a sentence]The girls all enjoy camping.[after a pronoun objectect of a sentence]I've seen them all.
  2. the greatest possible: with all speed.
  3. any;
    any whatever: beyond all doubt.
  4. entirely;
    purely: The coat is all wool.
  5. dominated by a particular feature:I'm all thumbs (= very clumsy) when it comes to auto repairs.

pron. 
  1. the whole quantity, number, or entire amount:Did you eat all of the peanuts?

n. 
  1. [uncountable] one's whole interest, energy, or property: Give it your all.
  2. [uncountable] the entire area, place, environment, or the like: All is calm, all is bright.
  3. every one;
    everybody (a formal use):[plural* used with a plural verb]All rise, the court is in session.
  4. everything:[uncountable]Is that all you've got to say?

adv. 
  1. wholly;
    entirely;
    completely: all alone.
  2. each;
    apiece:The score was tied at one all.
Idioms
  1. Idioms all but, [be + ~] almost;
    very nearly: These batteries are all but dead.
  2. Idioms all in all, everything considered;
    in general: All in all, we're better off now than we were ten years ago.
  3. Idioms all out, with one's best effort:The team went all out to win the game.
  4. Idioms all the better, so much the better:If my opponent loses, all the better for me.
  5. Idioms, Informal Terms all there, [usually with a negative word or phrase, or in questions] mentally competent:She doesn't seem all there.
  6. Idioms all told, all together;
    all included:All told, some sixty-five people came to the party.
  7. Idioms and all, and so forth:What with the late hour and all, we must leave.
  8. Idioms at all, (used to give emphasis to a word or phrase, esp. a word or phrase with "any'' in it):
    • in the slightest degree or amount:Aren't there any doughnuts left at all?
    • for any reason: Why bother at all?
    • in any way: didn't cause me any trouble at all.
    • (used in other phrases for emphasis):Look, I'll take a job anywhere at all.
  9. Idioms for all (that), in spite of (that);
    notwithstanding: It was a difficult time living abroad, but for all that, it was a good year.
  10. Idioms in all, all included;
    all together:There were forty in all.
  11. Idioms of all, (used to give emphasis after a word like "first'', "last'', "best''):First of all, welcome to our college.


all-, 
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
once /wʌns/USA pronunciation   adv. 
  1. formerly:a once powerful nation.
  2. a single time:We eat out once a week.
  3. at any time;
    ever:If the facts once became known, we'd be in trouble.
  4. by a single step, degree, or grade:She's my first cousin once removed.

n. [uncountable]
  1. a single occasion;
    one time only:Once is enough.

conj. 
  1. if or when at any time;
    if ever:Once the news is out, they'll hunt us down.
  2. whenever;
    as soon as:Once you're finished, you can leave.

adj. 
  1. former;
    one-time:the once and future king.
Idioms
  1. Idioms all at once, suddenly:All at once it started to rain.
  2. Idioms at once:
    • immediately;
      promptly:left at once.
    • at the same time;
      simultaneously:They all sprang up at once.
  3. Idioms once (and) for all, decisively;
    finally:Let's settle this argument once and for all.
  4. Idioms once in a while, sometimes;
    occasionally.
  5. Idioms once or twice, a very few times;
    not frequently:I've only seen her once or twice.
  6. Idioms once upon a time, (used as an opening phrase to give the setting for a fairy tale or similar story in the distant, imaginary past):Once upon a time there was a giant.


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
all  (ôl),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. the whole of (used in referring to quantity, extent, or duration):all the cake;all the way;all year.
  2. the whole number of (used in referring to individuals or particulars, taken collectively):all students.
  3. the greatest possible (used in referring to quality or degree):with all due respect; with all speed.
  4. every:all kinds; all sorts.
  5. any;
    any whatever:beyond all doubt.
  6. nothing but;
    only:The coat is all wool.
  7. dominated by or as if by the conspicuous possession or use of a particular feature:The colt was all legs. They were all ears, listening attentively to everything she said.
  8. Dialect Terms[Chiefly Pennsylvania German.]all gone;
    consumed;
    finished:The pie is all.

pron. 
  1. the whole quantity or amount:He ate all of the peanuts. All are gone.
  2. the whole number;
    every one:all of us.
  3. everything:Is that all you want to say? All is lost.

n. 
  1. one's whole interest, energy, or property:to give one's all; to lose one's all.
  2. (often cap.) the entire universe.
  3. above all, before everything else;
    chiefly:Above all, the little girl wanted a piano.
  4. after all, in spite of the circumstances;
    notwithstanding:He came in time after all.
  5. all in all:
    • everything considered;
      in general:All in all, her health is greatly improved.
    • altogether:There were twelve absentees all in all.
    • everything;
      everything regarded as important:Painting became his all in all.
  6. Printing, Journalism all in hand, (of the copy for typesetting a particular article, book, issue, etc.) in the possession of the compositor.
  7. and all, together with every other associated or connected attribute, object, or circumstance:What with the snow and all, we may be a little late.
  8. at all:
    • in the slightest degree:I wasn't surprised at all.
    • for any reason:Why bother at all?
    • in any way:no offense at all.
  9. for all (that), in spite of;
    notwithstanding:For all that, it was a good year.
  10. in all, all included;
    all together:a hundred guests in all.
  11. once and for all, for the last time;
    finally:The case was settled once and for all when the appeal was denied.

adv. 
  1. wholly;
    entirely;
    completely:all alone.
  2. only;
    exclusively:He spent his income all on pleasure.
  3. each;
    apiece:The score was one all.
  4. [Archaic.]even;
    just.
  5. all at once. See once (def. 14).
  6. all but, almost;
    very nearly:These batteries are all but dead.
  7. Dialect Terms all in, Northern and Western U.S. very tired;
    exhausted:We were all in at the end of the day.
  8. Nautical all in the wind, too close to the wind.
  9. all out, with all available means or effort:We went all out to win the war.
  10. all over:
    • finished;
      done;
      ended.
    • everywhere;
      in every part.
    • in every respect;
      typically.
  11. all standing, [Naut.]
    • Naval Termsin such a way and so suddenly that sails or engines are still set to propel a vessel forward:The ship ran aground all standing.
    • Naval Termsfully clothed:The crew turned in all standing.
    • Naval Termsfully equipped, as a vessel.
  12. all that, remarkably;
    entirely;
    decidedly (used in negative constructions):It's not all that different from your other house.
  13. all the better, more advantageous;
    so much the better:If the sun shines it will be all the better for our trip.
  14. all there, [Informal.]mentally competent;
    not insane or feeble-minded:Some of his farfetched ideas made us suspect that he wasn't all there.
  15. all the same. See same (def. 8).
  16. all told. See told (def. 2).
  17. all up:
    • Journalism[Print., Journ.](of copy) completely set in type.
    • [Informal.]with no vestige of hope remaining:It's all up with George—they've caught him.
  • *ol-io-; compare almighty
  • *ol-no-, equivalent. to Welsh oll and akin to Old Irish uile
  • bef. 900; Middle English al, plural alle; Old English eal(l); cognate with Gothic alls, Old Norse allr, Old Frisian, Dutch, Middle Low German al, Old Saxon, Old High German al(l) (German all); if
    2. every one of, each of. 23. totally, utterly, fully.
    Expressions like all the farther and all the higher occur chiefly in informal speech:This is all the farther the bus goes.That's all the higher she can jump.Elsewhere as far as and as high as are generally used:This is as far as the bus goes.That's as high as she can jump.Although some object to the inclusion of of in such phrases as all of the students and all of the contracts and prefer to omit it, the construction is entirely standard.
    See also already, alright, altogether.
all-, 
  1. var. of allo- before a vowel:allonym.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
once  (wuns),USA pronunciation adv. 
  1. at one time in the past;
    formerly:I was a farmer once; a once powerful nation.
  2. a single time:We ate there just once. We go to a movie once a week.
  3. even a single time;
    at any time;
    ever:If the facts once become known, it will be just too bad.
  4. by a single step, degree, or grade:a cousin once removed.
  5. Idioms once and again, repeatedly:He has been told once and again not to slam the door.
  6. Idioms once and for all, decisively;
    finally:Let's settle this problem once and for all.Also, once for all. 
  7. Idioms once in a while, at intervals;
    occasionally:She stops in to see us once in a while.
  8. Idioms once or twice, a very few times;
    infrequently:I've seen her in the elevator once or twice.
  9. Idioms once upon a time, at some unspecified past time, esp. a long time ago:Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a prince and princess.

adj. 
  1. former;
    having at one time been:the once and future king.

conj. 
  1. if or when at any time;
    if ever.
  2. whenever;
    as soon as:Once you're finished, you can leave.

n. 
  1. a single occasion;
    one time only:Once is enough.
  2. Idioms all at once:
    • simultaneously:The children were running, screaming, and throwing things all at once.
    • suddenly:All at once the rain came down.
  3. Idioms at once:
    • at the same time;
      simultaneously:Don't all speak at once.
    • immediately;
      promptly:Tell him to come at once!
  • bef. 1150; Middle English ones, Old English ānes, origin, originally genitive of ān one; replacing Middle English enes, Old English ǣnes once, equivalent. to ǣne once (origin, originally instrumental of ān) + -es adverb, adverbial suffix; see -s1

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
once /wʌns/ adv
  1. one time; on one occasion or in one case
  2. at some past time; formerly: I could speak French once
  3. by one step or degree (of relationship): a cousin once removed
  4. (in conditional clauses, negatives, etc) ever; at all: if you once forget it
  5. multiplied by one
  6. once and away ⇒
    • conclusively
    • occasionally
  7. once and for all ⇒ conclusively; for the last time
  8. once in a while ⇒ occasionally; now and then
  9. once or twice, once and again ⇒ a few times
  10. once upon a time ⇒ used to begin fairy tales and children's stories
 conj
  1. (subordinating) as soon as; if ever or whenever
 n
  1. one occasion or case: you may do it, this once
  2. all at once ⇒
    • suddenly or without warning
    • simultaneously
  3. at once ⇒
    • immediately
    • simultaneously
  4. for once ⇒ this time, if (or but) at no other time
Etymology: 12th Century ones, ānes, adverbial genitive of on, ān one
'all at once' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
once - all - burst - fire - holus-bolus - swoop
In Lists: francy68, more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "all at once" in the title:


Look up "all at once" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "all at once" at dictionary.com
  • Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!

Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.