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Synonyms

all the while

American  
[awl thuh wahyl, hwahyl] / ˈɔl ðə ˈwaɪl, ˈʰwaɪl /

idiom

  1. during this time; all along.

    She realized all the while that their plan would probably fail.


Etymology

Origin of all the while

First recorded in 1350–1400

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

And all the while, Washington kept treating imports as a substitute for rebuilding domestic supply.

From MarketWatch Jun. 30, 2026

Schneider responded with more antics, filming all the while.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 26, 2026

They asked her numerous questions, including about her bank accounts and transaction history, all the while reminding her how grave the case was and how much trouble she could be in.

From BBC May 18, 2026

Across two hours, Buckley’s Bride shoots, kicks, contorts, dances, scrapes, whizzes, licks and screams, all the while coming no closer to her true self than she was at the start of the film.

From Salon Mar. 8, 2026

We would put on fresh, dry clothes, making sure all the while that no parts of our bodies showed, so as to preserve our modesty.

From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan

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