while

[ wahyl, hwahyl ]

/ waɪl, ʰwaɪl /

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See synonyms for while on Thesaurus.com

noun

a period or interval of time: to wait a long while;He arrived a short while ago.

Archaic. a particular time or occasion.

conjunction

during or in the time that.

throughout the time that; as long as.

even though; although: While she appreciated the honor, she could not accept the position.

at the same time that (showing an analogous or corresponding action): The floor was strewn with books, while magazines covered the tables.

preposition

Archaic. until.

verb (used with object), whiled, whil·ing.

to cause (time) to pass, especially in some easy or pleasant manner (usually followed by away).

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Idioms about while

all the while. See entry at all the while.

worth one's while, worth one's time, trouble, or expense: The art exhibition that opened yesterday isn't worth your while.

Origin of while

before 900; Middle English; Old English hwīl; cognate with Dutch wijl,German weile,Old Norse hvīla,Gothic hweila

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH while

while , wile

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use while in a sentence

They end up in Wyoming, whiling away their time there by falling for each other all over again.
Sarah Jessica Parker on Surrogacy and Cursing|Kevin Sessums|December 16, 2009|DAILY BEAST
This was no official message paying toll, but a private conversation between operators bent on whiling away dull moments.
A Pagan of the Hills|Charles Neville Buck
But women have a thousand pretty little devices for whiling away the heavy hours.
The Girl of the Period and Other Social Essays, Vol. II (of 2)|Eliza Lynn Linton
But even "David Copperfield," which arrived with her meal, did not aid her in whiling away the hours.
The Biography of a Prairie Girl|Eleanor Gates

Idle hands and unoccupied brains found in mischief the only means of whiling away the long hours of incarceration.
The Chronicles of Newgate, v. 2/2|Arthur Griffiths
For nine days he came, sitting by the bedside and whiling away many a weary hour for the sufferer, until the tenth morning.
Twelve Men|Theodore Dreiser

British Dictionary definitions for while

while

/ (waɪl) /

conjunction Also: whilst (waɪlst)

(subordinating) at the same time thatplease light the fire while I'm cooking

(subordinating) all the time thatI stay inside while it's raining

(subordinating) in spite of the fact thatwhile I agree about his brilliance I still think he's rude

(coordinating) whereas; and in contrastflats are expensive, while houses are cheap

(subordinating; used with a gerund) during the activity ofwhile walking I often whistle

preposition, conjunction

Scot and Northern English dialect another word for until you'll have to wait while Monday for these sheets; you'll never make any progress while you listen to me

noun

(usually used in adverbial phrases) a period or interval of timeonce in a long while

trouble or time (esp in the phrase worth one's while)it's hardly worth your while to begin work today

the while at that timehe was working the while

Word Origin for while

Old English hwīl; related to Old High German hwīla (German Weile), Gothic hveila, Latin quiēs peace, tranquīlus tranquil

usage for while

It was formerly considered incorrect to use while to mean in spite of the fact that or whereas, but these uses have now become acceptable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with while

while

In addition to the idioms beginning with while

while away
while back
while there's life there's hope

also see:

all the time (while)
a while back
every now and then (once in a while)
fiddle while Rome burns
get out while the getting is good
in a while
make hay while the sun shines
once in a while
quit while you're ahead
strike while the iron's hot
worth one's while

while

Idioms about while

Origin of while

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH while

Words related to while

How to use while in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for while

Word Origin for while

usage for while

Other Idioms and Phrases with while