while away

British

verb

(tr, adverb) to pass (time) idly and usually pleasantly

"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

while away Idioms

Spend time idly or pleasantly, as in It was a beautiful day and we whiled away the hours in the garden. This expression is the only surviving use of the verb while, meaning “to spend time.” [First half of 1600s]

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while away

If they have to travel for performances, the children connect online to their teachers while away and catch up on any missed work once back in Kampala.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

The dash console sits well forward of the well-padded front seats, creating an airy space in which to while away the miles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

As luck has it, there is a gelato joint next door and so we continue his lead, sit on the terrace, people-watch and while away and enjoy lemon sorbet.

From Salon ● Nov. 8, 2025

The men, who have known each other since their earliest days in Los Angeles politics, now form a political odd couple while away from their families in California.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 26, 2024

That way she could go on talking at least with Chrissie, and Tommy and I could have some sort of conversation to while away the journey.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

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

while away

verb

Example Sentences

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