# once upon a time

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈwʌns.əˈpɑn.əˈtaɪ̯m/

## Definitions
1. A long time ago; at some time in the past (a traditional beginning of children's stories, especially fairy tales).
2. Formerly.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/once-upon-a-time