phrase

once again

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Once again (phrase) means one more time, especially when the same thing has happened before. It often carries a note of weariness or of pointed recognition that a pattern is repeating. Example: “Once again, the meeting overran by half an hour.”

phrase

One more time, especially when the same thing has happened before. It often carries a note of weariness or of pointed recognition that a pattern is repeating.

"Once again, the meeting overran by half an hour."

"Let me say once again how grateful we are."

How to Use Once again

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAgain, one more time.

When to use it

Neutral. Works in speech and formal writing alike.

Memory tip

As a sentence opener it takes a comma: Once again, the answer was no.

Easily confused with

once more yet again again and again

Common pairings

once again, we thank you once again once again proved

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____, the meeting overran by half an hour.

Synonyms

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again yet again one more time afresh anew

Related Words

again anew afresh redux

Rhymes for once again

ain rain pain lain gain main vain fain bain Iain Jain Cain

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between once again and once more?

Once more emphasises one further repetition, often a final one: 'sing it once more'. Once again points out that something is repeating, frequently with a sigh: 'once again, nobody replied'. They overlap, but once more sounds slightly more literary.

Is once again just a longer way of saying again?

Almost, but not quite. Once again is more emphatic and usually sits at the front of a sentence to frame the whole statement as a repetition, where plain again would simply be tacked on at the end.

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