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one-time

Occurring or used in a single instance and then never again.

/wˈʌntaɪm/Current170 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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3 definitions
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10 citations · last seen May 2026

Seen in the wild

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#1·Apr 27, 2026

Occurring or used in a single instance and then never again.

His one-time investment in a brickyard had put the idea into his head—an idea that he decided was a good one, for it enabled him to suggest that she ride along with him to inspect the quarry.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

Of or pertaining to a specific period of time in the past, not extending to the present.

He was the one-time president of the club.
For parents

"one-time" means: Of or pertaining to a specific period of time in the past, not extending to the present.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"one-time" means: Of or pertaining to a specific period of time in the past, not extending to the present.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Heard in the wild
  • “Marie Analiz April Limpoco, Christel Faes, Niel Hens: Federated generalized linear mixed models based on one-time shared summary statistics https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.01379 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2605.01379 https://arxiv.org/html/2605.01379”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “One-time independent aims to reinvent politicking as he gets into Democratic primary in 1st CD. Via @erikgunn.bsky.social wisconsinexaminer.com/2026/05/05/o...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “5/5 Portal Make a one-time donation Your contribution is appreciated. Donate Make a monthly donation Your contribution is appreciated. Donate monthly Make a yearly donation Your contribution is appreciated. Donate yearly”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Join the White Folks Anti-Racism Caucus for: Dinner and Learn; Eat. Drink. End racism. Thursday, May 7, at 7 PM (EST). bitly/MAY-WFARC We invite you to join us as we engage in anti-racism as an ongoing practice, not a one-time conversation.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Tube Engine AI + All OTOs vishalmane.gumroad.com/l/dwfmw One-Time Payment | Lifetime Account | Satisfaction Guaranteed LAUNCH THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL – You've Always Dreamed of — Today with AI CREATE SCROLL-STOPPING SHORTS & VIDEOS – With Avatars, Voices & Templates”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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#3·Apr 27, 2026

(soccer, ice hockey) To shoot (the ball or puck) directly from a teammate's pass.

Basel's good moment continued, and in stoppage time of the first half, Streller released Salah with a clever pass down the middle and the young Egyptian one-timed the ball over Čech.
Heard in the wild
  • “Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem’s one-time enforcer decisively lost a Republican primary for a battleground congressional seat on Tuesday.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “EyePoint Q1 Revenue Plummets on One-Time Comparables as R&D Investment Surges https://signalbloom.ai/news/EYPT/eyepoint-q1-revenue-plummets-on-one-time-comparables-as-rd-investment-surges $EYPT #Earnings via @signalbloom.ai”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “one-time payment decentralized music streaming for life? and the artist is (usually) paid fairly? if only such a thing existed in real life...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “World2Fly June 2026 Curacao – Houston One-Time Charter www.aeroroutes.com/eng/260506-2...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “if it costs me time, there is nothing more expensive. that's a one-time use thing lol”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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