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

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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

See Examples For:

awhile

Consumers will get some relief when oil and fuel supplies return to normal, but it could be awhile.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

I’ll drive to San Pedro, hit the Korean Bell of Friendship and just chill for awhile.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Before abandoning legal ties to a country, one must first prove citizenship somewhere else — and that can take awhile.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026

Don’t be surprised if the party lasts awhile longer.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

Like that immortal hero, she reposed awhile after the first attempt, which resulted in a tumble and the least lovely of the giant’s treasures, if I remember rightly.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

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