while

¹while

noun \ˈhwī(-ə)l, ˈwī(-ə)l\

Definition of WHILE

1

: a period of time especially when short and marked by the occurrence of an action or a condition : time <stay here for a while>

2

: the time and effort used (as in the performance of an action) : trouble <worth your while>

Examples of WHILE

1. It took them a while to find out what was causing the problem.
2. <we stayed at the fair for a while longer>

Origin of WHILE

Middle English, from Old English hwīl; akin to Old High German hwīla time, Latin quies rest, quiet

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WHILE

Synonyms

bit, space, spell, stretch

Related Words

lapse; season, span; day, epoch, era; beat, eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, instant, jiff, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, spurt, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink; aeon (or eon), age, eternity, infinity, perpetuity; interim, interlude, intermission, interval

Near Antonyms

adroitness, ease, facility, fluency, smoothness; dormancy, idleness, inaction, inactivity, indolence, inertia, languor, laziness, quiescence

²while

conjunction

Definition of WHILE

1

a : during the time that <take a nap while I'm out>

b : as long as <while there's life there's hope>

2

a : when on the other hand : whereas <easy for an expert, while it is dangerous for a novice>

b : in spite of the fact that : although <while respected, he is not liked>

3

: similarly and at the same time that <while the book will be welcomed by scholars, it will make an immediate appeal to the general reader — British Book News>

Examples of WHILE

1. Someone called while you were out.
2. You can get the photos developed while you wait.
3. The phone rang while I was doing the dishes.
4. They met while they were in college.
5. Can I get you anything while I'm at the store?
6. He made a comment that, while well-intentioned, still hurt my feelings.
7. While I think some parts of the plan are good, I don't think it's practical.

First Known Use of WHILE

12th century

Related to WHILE

Synonyms

as, so long as, when, whilst [chiefly British]

Related Words

but, if

Near Antonyms

after

Rhymes with WHILE

dial, file, isle, pile, smile, spile, stile, style, tile, trial, wile

³while

preposition

Definition of WHILE

dialect British

: until

First Known Use of WHILE

15th century

⁴while

transitive verb

whiledwhil·ing

Definition of WHILE

: to cause to pass especially without boredom or in a pleasant manner —usually used with away <while away the time>

First Known Use of WHILE

1635