Phrase guide

at a time

prep_phrase · 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

In a single, continuous period of time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He manages to abstain from smoking for weeks at a time, but then gives in and starts again.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

Simultaneously at each occurrence (of some action).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • climb stairs two at a time

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

prep_phrase

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see at, a, time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • We can't buy a new car at a time when we are already running low on money.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

simultaneously

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he took three cookies at a time

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: at once, at one time

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: ad gangen — in a continuous period
  • Dutch: tegelijk — in a continuous period
  • Esperanto: -ope — in a continuous period
  • Esperanto: samtempe — in a continuous period
  • Finnish: kerrallaan — in a continuous period
  • French: à la fois — in a continuous period
  • Hungarian: egyhuzamban — in a continuous period
  • Hungarian: egyvégtében — in a continuous period
  • Hungarian: megszakítás nélkül — in a continuous period
  • Italian: alla volta — in a continuous period
  • Italian: per volta — in a continuous period
  • Marathi: एका वेळीस (ekā veḷīs) — in a continuous period
  • Slovak: za sebou — in a continuous period
  • Slovak: po sebe — in a continuous period
  • Slovak: naraz — in a continuous period
  • Spanish: a la vez — in a continuous period
  • Catalan: a la vegada — simultaneously
  • Danish: ad gangen — simultaneously
  • Esperanto: samtempe — simultaneously
  • Hungarian: -esével — simultaneously
  • Hungarian: -asával — simultaneously
  • Hungarian: -osával — simultaneously
  • Hungarian: -ösével — simultaneously
  • Polish: naraz — simultaneously
  • Portuguese: por vez — simultaneously
  • Slovak: naraz — simultaneously
  • Slovak: spolu — simultaneously
  • Spanish: a la vez — simultaneously
  • Swedish: i taget — simultaneously
  • Welsh: fesul — simultaneously