whilst

American

[hwahylst, wahylst] / ʰwaɪlst, waɪlst /

conjunction

Chiefly British. while.

whilst British

/ waɪlst /

conjunction

another word for while while while while while

"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

Etymology

Origin of whilst

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English whilest, equivalent to whiles + excrescent -t as in amongst, amidst

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.

Muir said the crisis "has been decades in the making" and whilst there are "no quick fixes, restoring and protecting the ecological health of the lough is possible".

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

Using the 1981-2010 average of number of days where snow falls in a month, March sees 4.2 snow days whilst there are just 3.9 days on average in December.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

One manufacturer told the BBC they had already changed the name of one product to comply with the new rules, whilst another said all their labels would have to be altered as a result.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

In particular, the U.A.E.—which has long been a financial hub for Iranian businesses and individuals—warned that it could freeze Iranian-owned assets, whilst also debating whether to send military assets into the fight, The Journal reported.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

“To what?” he asked gently, whilst we were all very still; for each in our own way we had a sort of vague idea of what she meant.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023