whiles
Americanadverb
-
Chiefly Scot. at times.
-
Obsolete. in the meantime.
conjunction
adverb
conjunction
Etymology
Origin of whiles
Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at while, -s 1
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.
In Kim Eunho’s 1927 ink and color painting on silk, “Woman Reading the Fortune of the Day,” a hostess in traditional hanbok dress whiles away her break with gaming tiles as a cigarette smolders nearby.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
She lives alone, and whiles away the time watching cute animal videos on her phone as she lies on the floor.
From BBC • Aug. 8, 2025
"Fatah is the same, Fatah cares about Fatah people," said Kuhail, who whiles away his time in cheap cafes with other unemployed friends.
From Reuters • Mar. 22, 2023
His father and siblings are dead and he now whiles away the days teaching himself maths from a battered textbook at one of al-Hawl’s two small orphanage buildings.
From The Guardian • Aug. 31, 2019
It would ease my care, if you would speak to me, or walk at whiles with me.’
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
