twice
adv.-
1 two times (adv.) A1 Beginnertwo times or on two occasions.
occurring on two separate occasions or instances.
ExampleI brush my teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.
ExampleThe committee met twice during the summer recess to ensure the project remained on schedule despite the absence of the lead architect.
UsageOften used in frequency phrases like 'twice a week' or 'twice a year'.
- two times
- doubly
PitfallI have seen that movie two times.I have seen that movie twice.While 'two times' is grammatically correct, 'twice' is much more natural and common in everyday English.
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2 double the amount (adv.) A2 Elementarydouble the amount, size, or strength of something.
to a degree or amount that is twofold; doubled in quantity or intensity.
ExampleThis new battery lasts twice as long as the old one.
ExampleThe renovated stadium now has twice the seating capacity of the original structure, allowing it to host major international tournaments.
UsageCommonly used in the comparative structure 'twice as [adjective] as'.
From earlier twise, from Middle English twies, twiȝes, from Old English twīġes (“twice”), from twīwa, twīġa ("twice"; whence Middle English twie (“twice”)) + -es (adverbial genitive ending). Related to Saterland Frisian twäie (“twice”), Middle Low German twiges, twies (“twice”), Middle High German zwies (“twice”). Equivalent to twi- (“(in) two; both”) + -ce. Similarly constructed to the prefixes bis- and dis-, borrowed from Indo-European cognates.