Synonyms

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.

In a trading update, the airport said: "Passenger numbers for the rest of the year are likely to be impacted whilst there is significant uncertainty in the Middle East."

From BBC • May 3, 2026

The Met commissioner said his "first thoughts" were with the victims, who had been attacked "whilst going about their daily lives, which they should be able to do freely and safely".

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

“I’m not aware of huge numbers of elderly people falling out of windows whilst cleaning them,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

"JNIM pursues a political-religious agenda, centred on the establishment of sharia law and the rejection of foreign forces, whilst the FLA champions a territorial and autonomist agenda, centred on Azawad," he said.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

He was hopping from one foot to the ’nother whilst someone banged on a drum.

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis

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