Looking up...
once upon a time
/wʌns əˈpɒn ə taɪm/
traditional fairy tale opening
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a castle.
This phrase introduces a fictional story, often a fairy tale.
literary
A phrase used to begin a traditional fairy tale or story.
Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a brave knight.
This sets the scene for a fictional narrative.
She told her children stories beginning with 'Once upon a time...'
This phrase signals the start of a story meant for children.
The phrase is almost always followed by a past tense verb (e.g., 'there was', 'lived', 'existed'). It is a literary device to create a sense of timelessness and tradition.
Collocations
once upon a timeused to introduce a fictional narrative
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Use in storytelling
Use 'once upon a time' to introduce imaginative or fictional stories, especially for children. It signals that the story is not factual but part of a traditional narrative.
Gold Rule
Never use in formal writing
Avoid using 'once upon a time' in formal essays, reports, or professional contexts. It is strictly a literary device for storytelling.
Word Origin
The phrase dates back to at least the 14th century in English. 'Once' derives from Old English 'ānes' (once), and 'upon' comes from 'ūp' (up) + 'on' (on). The phrase likely evolved from storytelling traditions where tales were framed as happening in a distant, unspecified past.
Usage Notes
This phrase is exclusively used in fictional storytelling, particularly in fairy tales and children's stories. It is not used in factual or historical contexts. The phrase implies a sense of nostalgia or timelessness.
Word Breakdown
once
at some time in the past
adverbupon
on the occasion of
prepositiona time
a particular period in the past
noun phraseEnglish Dictionary