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

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has made no secret of his desire, whilst speaking to Croatian media, of his desire to sign players from that country's league.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

During Blanchett's year as the Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre, she will present lectures whilst engaging with students and the wider university community.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

The research also shows that whilst a combination of restoration and a reduction in chopping down mangroves has been successful, it has not been a uniform success across the globe.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

But that is gone; and we must so work, that other poor souls perish not, whilst we can save.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

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