at a time

idiom

: during one particular moment

I can only do one thing at a time.

Please speak one at a time and not all at once.

We carried the boxes two at a time up the stairs.

: during one period of time without stopping

She can sit and read for hours at a time.

Examples of at a time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Start with one change at a time, for example, trying to eat more fruits and vegetables or replacing butter with olive oil. —

Cathy Nelson, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2024 Our first president, George Washington, gave up power at a time when this was not the norm. —

Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Aug. 2024 Then there are the Blazers, who ghosted the Heat at a time when players such as Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Tyler Herro and even machinations for the first-round pick that turned into Kel’el Ware could have been on the table. —

Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2024 Manager Carlos Mendoza invoked the old cliche of taking things one game at a time. —

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for at a time

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at a time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.