Phrase guide

for once

prep_phrase · 1 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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1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

For the first time, after many instances to the contrary; in a rare exception to the rule; as an exception to the usual.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: for a change

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 破天荒 (pòtiānhuāng) — for the first time
  • Finnish: kerrankin — for the first time
  • Georgian: ამჯერად (amǯerad) — for the first time
  • Polish: chociaż raz — for the first time
  • Chinese Mandarin: 難得 /难得 (nándé) — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Chinese Mandarin: 破天荒 (pòtiānhuāng) — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Esperanto: por unufoje — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Faroese: fyri eina ferð skyld — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Finnish: kerrankin — in a rare exception to the rule
  • French: pour une fois — in a rare exception to the rule
  • German: wenigstens einmal — in a rare exception to the rule
  • German: wenigstens ein einziges Mal — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Hungarian: most az egyszer — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Hungarian: ez egyszer — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Italian: per una volta — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Italian: una volta tanto — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Polish: dla odmiany — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Polish: na odmianę — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Russian: в ко́и-то ве́ки (v kói-to véki) — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Russian: на э́тот раз (na étot raz) — in a rare exception to the rule
  • Swedish: för en gångs skull — in a rare exception to the rule