while away

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to pass (time) idly and usually pleasantly

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while away Idioms  

1. Spend time idly or pleasantly, as in It was a beautiful day and we whiled away the hours in the garden. This expression is the only surviving use of the verb while, meaning “to spend time.” [First half of 1600s]

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Example Sentences

While away, she wasn’t paid because hours after filing papers for the leave, HR emailed her that she was “under investigation for supposedly threatening someone,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2022

While away from politics, Mr Hamilton has appeared on many celebrity TV and radio shows - often with his wife Christine - including Have I Got News For You?

From BBC • May 30, 2017

While away, she generally stayed in touch with her mother over the phone, as she did in December and January, police said.

From Washington Post • Feb. 14, 2017

While away, they decided to get another dog - they named her Delilah - before moving back to Oso.

From Washington Times • Sep. 21, 2014

While away he had some religious experiences that made him a new man.

From The Bible Period by Period A Manual for the Study of the Bible by Periods by Tidwell, Josiah Blake

Related Words

• consume
• devote
• employ
• go
• kill
• put in
• waste