Synonyms

whilst

American

[hwahylst, wahylst] / ʰwaɪlst, waɪlst /

conjunction

Chiefly British. while.

whilst British

/ waɪlst /

conjunction

another word for 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.

Sales on Amazon nearly doubled last week compared with the same period in 2025, whilst electronics outlet Fnac Darty reported double-digit growth.

From Barron's • Jun. 23, 2026

"Since then it has been about how we support these guys, whilst not overlooking the fact they have not lived up to the standards we have set for ourselves."

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026

"We hope this film will go a long way to raise awareness of how to live whilst facing a life-changing diagnosis."

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

"If we're able to make good on what we've been taught and what we've gone through and it makes us a better side, whilst it still hurts, it will make us a better side."

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Don’t camp out whilst you’s waiting; y’all needs to get the road outta your bones for long as you can.

From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis

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