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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

The idea is that readers can connect in a casual, welcoming environment, all the while increasing visibility for independent bookstores.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 16, 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

Everything lived side by side, and all the while we had two kids trying to lead their own lives apart from what was going on at home.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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