All at Once

What Does "All at Once" Mean?

"All at once" is an English idiom. It means "suddenly; all at the same time."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "all at once" used in a sentence:

• All at once, the lights went out.
• I can't do everything all at once, so please be patient.
• The children began to shout all at once, making it hard to understand any of them.

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "All at Once" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "all at once" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions