Idiom
at once
Meaning
to do something immediately or at the same time as something else.
Examples
“Please finish your homework at once.”
“The fire alarm rang, so everyone left the building at once.”
“The king demanded that his advisors address the crisis at once, as the kingdom could not afford any further delay.”
Examples
simple
“Please finish your homework at once.”
contextual
“The fire alarm rang, so everyone left the building at once.”
complex
“The king demanded that his advisors address the crisis at once, as the kingdom could not afford any further delay.”
Origin
From Middle English at ones, equivalent to at + once.
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated