# one after another

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/one-after-another
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

In single file.

## Examples

- The children walked into the room one after another.
- The guests arrived one after another, so the host had plenty of time to greet everyone.
- As the storm intensified, the small boats returned to the harbor one after another, seeking shelter from the rising waves.

## Origin

Derived from the Old English ān æfter ōþrum, which was recorded with the same sense. The construction has remained essentially unchanged in English for over a millennium.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.