adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌɔːl ət ˈwʌn(t)s/
General-American:/ˌɔl ət ˈwʌn(t)s/
General-American:/ˌɑl ət ˈwʌn(t)s/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
adv
Meaning 1
Unexpectedly; without warning; all of a sudden.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: All at the same time; all together.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
There are too many to get in the lift all at once, so some must wait.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adverb
Meaning 3
without warning
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
all at once, he started shouting
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: all of a sudden
Antonyms: none provided
4
adverb
Meaning 4
all at the same time
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Let's say `Yes!' all at once
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: all together
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
51 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
de sobte sobtadament
— unexpectedly
Czech:
najednou
— unexpectedly
Dutch:
plotseling
— unexpectedly
Dutch:
opeens
— unexpectedly
Dutch:
ineens
— unexpectedly
Esperanto:
subite
— unexpectedly
Finnish:
yhtäkkiä
— unexpectedly
French:
soudain
— unexpectedly
French:
tout d'un coup
— unexpectedly
French:
d'un coup d'un seul
— unexpectedly
Georgian:
უეცრად
(uecrad)
— unexpectedly
German:
auf einmal
— unexpectedly
Greek:
μεμιάς
(memiás)
— unexpectedly
Ancient Greek:
ἀθρόως
(athróōs)
— unexpectedly
Hungarian:
hirtelen
— unexpectedly
Hungarian:
váratlanul
— unexpectedly
Hungarian:
egyszer csak
— unexpectedly
Hungarian:
egyszerre csak
— unexpectedly
Italian:
tutto in una volta
— unexpectedly
Italian:
d'un tratto
— unexpectedly
Italian:
tutto d'un tratto
— unexpectedly
Japanese:
一斉
(issei)
— unexpectedly
Polish:
znienacka
— unexpectedly
Polish:
nagle
— unexpectedly
Polish:
ni stąd ni zowąd
— unexpectedly
Portuguese:
do nada
— unexpectedly
Portuguese:
de repente
— unexpectedly
Romanian:
brusc
— unexpectedly
Romanian:
deodată
— unexpectedly
Romanian:
dintr-o dată
— unexpectedly
Russian:
вдруг
(vdrug)
— unexpectedly
Russian:
внеза́пно
(vnezápno)
— unexpectedly
Russian:
неожи́данно
(neožídanno)
— unexpectedly
Swedish:
plötsligen
— unexpectedly
Swedish:
(helt) plötsligt
— unexpectedly
Swedish:
med ens
— unexpectedly
Vietnamese:
trong nháy mắt
— unexpectedly
Vietnamese:
trong một nốt nhạc
— unexpectedly
Vietnamese:
trong tích tắc
— unexpectedly
Catalan:
alhora
— All at the same time, all together
Finnish:
kerralla
— All at the same time, all together
French:
d'un seul coup
— All at the same time, all together
Ancient Greek:
ἀθρόον
(athróon)
— All at the same time, all together
Ancient Greek:
παμπληθεί
(pamplētheí)
— All at the same time, all together
Hungarian:
(mind/mindenki/mindnyájan) egyszerre
— All at the same time, all together
Italian:
in un sol colpo
— All at the same time, all together
Italian:
nello stesso momento
— All at the same time, all together
Italian:
in una sola volta
— All at the same time, all together
Māori:
petapeta
— All at the same time, all together
Polish:
wszystko naraz
— All at the same time, all together
Swedish:
på samma gång
— All at the same time, all together
