Definition of Once in a while

1. Adverb. Now and then or here and there. "As we drove along, the beautiful scenery now and then attracted his attention"


Definition of Once in a while

1. Adverb. (idiomatic) Occasionally; sometimes. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Once In A While

onbeat
onboard
onboarding
onbringing
onbringings
once
once(a)
once-in-a-lifetime
once-over
once-overs
once-removed
once again
once and for all
once bitten, twice shy
once in a blue moon
once in a while (current term)
once more
once or twice
once over
once overs
once removed
once upon a time
onceness
oncer
oncers
onces
oncet
oncho-
onchocerca

Literary usage of Once in a while

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. An American Glossary by Richard Hopwood Thornton (1912)
"once in a while a greenhorn gets taken in ; but —Mr. Wade of Ohio, US Senate, March 15: Cong. Globe, the great mass of the people will not be taken in by ..."

2. Assessing Alcohol Problems: A Guide for Clinicians and Researchers by John P. Allen, Megan Columbus (1997)
"Fairly of ten 1 once in a while 3 Almost never 5 31c. How often (do you have wine or beer) at friends homes— fairly often, once in a while, or almost never? ..."

3. Revised Record of the Constitutional Convention of the State of New York by New York (State). Constitutional Convention (1916)
"... right to say that we ought to be more careful and get good men which is all true, but once in a while ..."

4. Valentine's Manual of Old New Yorkby New York (N.Y.). Common Council by New York (N.Y.). Common Council (1916)
"... occasionally at college functions, and once in a while, when he walked across the Campus on his way to and from his residence, which stood on the ..."

5. The Arena by Harry Houdini Collection (Library of Congress) (1901)
"once in a while, like the sun that streams Through the breaking clouds on a day of showers, The light of happiness gaily gleams On this wistful wearisome ..."

6. The Log of the Snark by Charmian London, Snark (Ketch) (1915)
"Everything is altered, except the up-thrusting spires of the amazing mountains; so it is good once in a while to give rein to the imagination and restore as ..."

7. A Literary Source-book of the German Renaissance by Merrick Whitcomb (1899)
"once in a while I will butcher an ox, sell half to the peasants and smoke the rest. Back of the house I have a garden, where I shall plant garlic, ..."

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