Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
once-upon-a-time
adverb
ˈwʌns əˈpɒn ə taɪm
Definition
A phrase often used to begin a story.
Examples
- Once-upon-a-time, in a land far away, there lived a brave knight.
- Every bedtime, my grandmother would tell me a story that started with ‘once-upon-a-time.’
Meaning
Once-upon-a-time sets the scene for a tale, usually indicating that the story is fictional or fairy-tale-like.
Synonyms
- Long ago
- In the past
- Once
