# once

> English word · Adverb · IPA /wʌn(t)s/ · frequency rank #275

## Definitions
1. One and only one time.
2. Formerly; during some period in the past.
3. At any time; ever.
4. One day, someday.
5. Multiplied by one: indicating that a number is multiplied by one.

## Etymology
From Middle English ones, from Old English ānes, a remodelling (after ān (“one”)) of ǣnes, itself an extension of ǣne (“once”) with the genitive suffix -es. Equivalent to one + -s. Cognate with Saterland Frisian enst, insen (“once”), West Frisian iens (“once”), Dutch eens (“once”), German Low German eens, ins (“once”), German einst (“once”). More at one (including regarding the development of the pronunciation) and -s.

## Easily confused with
- **one** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-one)
- **owe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-owe)
- **ore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-ore)
- **Ons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-ons)
- **ono** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-ono)
- **OTC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-otc)
- **ONG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-ong)
- **orc** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-orc)
- **oni** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-oni)
- **OOC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-ooc)
- **only** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-only)
- **ones** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-ones)
- **onto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-onto)
- **ouch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-ouch)
- **onus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-onus)
- **onyx** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-onyx)
- **orca** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-orca)
- **ooze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-ooze)
- **Opie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-opie)
- **ounce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/once-vs-ounce)

## Common misspellings (5)
`noce`, `ocne`, `oncce`, `onec`, `onnce`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/once