awhile

American  

[uh-hwahyl, uh-wahyl] / əˈʰwaɪl, əˈwaɪl /

adverb

1. for a short time or period.

   Stay awhile.

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awhile British  

/ əˈwaɪl /

adverb

1. for a brief period

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Spelling

The adverb awhile is spelled as a single word: After stopping in Hadley awhile, we drove to Deerfield. As the object of a preposition, the noun phrase a while is used, especially in edited writing, but the single-word form is becoming increasingly common: We rested for a while (or awhile ).

Etymology

Origin of awhile

before 1000; Middle English; Old English āne hwīle (dative); see a ¹, while

Explanation

When you've been doing something awhile, you've been doing something for an indefinite amount of time: it could be a little while or a long while. This is a word that's hard to figure out without context. Awhile always applies to time, but the amount of time can be small or large. You could say you've been waiting awhile in line at the bank: that might mean 15 minutes. On the other hand, if you haven't heard from a friend in months, you could say, "Wow... It's been awhile!" Like a bit or a load, you can't measure awhile.

Example Sentences

Awhile back, she came up and grabbed me by my shoulders, then firmed up her grip.

From Golf Digest • Nov. 13, 2018

They were, indeed, looked after for the rest of their days, and are now buried in the Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery in Dedham, Mass. Their headstone says "Sleeping Awhile."

From Chicago Tribune • Sep. 30, 2014

Awhile ago, at the “House of Pain” at Engine 10, a photo of Ellerbe in a clown suit was posted on the wall.

From Washington Post • Mar. 2, 2014

Awhile back, Arizona held Washington State to 25 points.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 5, 2014

Awhile through it, it cuts out and I look back up to where the projection window is.

From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak