while

1 of 4

noun

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

while

2 of 4

conjunction

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 readerBritish Book News

while

3 of 4

preposition

dialectal British
: until

while

4 of 4

verb

whiled; whiling

transitive verb

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

Examples of while in a Sentence

Noun It took them a while to find out what was causing the problem. we stayed at the fair for a while longer Conjunction Someone called while you were out. You can get the photos developed while you wait. The phone rang while I was doing the dishes. They met while they were in college. Can I get you anything while I'm at the store? He made a comment that, while well-intentioned, still hurt my feelings. While I think some parts of the plan are good, I don't think it's practical.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Leo Woodall’s role as Dexter in One Day secured his status as a Netflix heartthrob — something his girlfriend Meghann Fahy has known for a while now. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Rivian has been teasing its R2 electric vehicle for a while now, which is expected to be a smaller and more affordable compact SUV versus its current R1S. Jon Porter, The Verge, 5 Mar. 2024 For a while, slick shoes didn't quite get off the ground after his breakout roles in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and The Goonies. Sarah Weldon, EW.com, 5 Mar. 2024 And that won’t be stopping, at least not for a while. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Mar. 2024 And yet photographs confirm that, in absolute terms, my pants remained fitted for a while. Jonah Weiner, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Molly Berry hasn’t felt totally safe in her apartment on Sandage Avenue in Fort Worth, south of TCU’s campus, for a while. James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Mar. 2024 Fashion houses have been attaching themselves to art fairs for a while, and, when executed poorly, the combination can appear disjointed and confusing. Laurie Trott, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 Throughout the hotel's public spaces, from the stunning Champagne Bar to a library's worth of coffee table books, guests are encouraged to relax for a while and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024
Verb
Observers have noticed on nearly every play Taylor has been setting up further behind the line of scrimmage than offensive linemen are allowed to while also jumping a half-second early. Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press, 8 Sep. 2023 Every Photo of Kate Middleton and Prince William in Boston After a coffee stop at Dunkin Donuts — a must while in Massachusetts, right? Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 6 Dec. 2022 Your talents may have attracted the spotlight—and could continue to while the Sun’s in Scorpio until November 22. The Astrotwins, ELLE, 30 Nov. 2022 His father, a security guard in the Texas oil fields, used to while away his shift catching snakes that wriggled by his post, and would bring them home for his children to admire before releasing them. Susan Orlean, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2022 But Mussolini failed to develop Italy’s economic and military might while Hitler transformed Germany into a colossus. Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 19 Sep. 2022 There's plenty of luxury to go around, as backseat passengers can while away the miles with a massage. Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 17 June 2022 The activity is in the Art Lab, which is brimming with other projects that will while away the time. Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Mar. 2022 In the photos, Saweetie is shown lounging under a palm tree, taking a dip in the water, and enjoying food and beverages — as one should while on vacay, of course. Sara Miranda, Allure, 27 Dec. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'while.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Preposition

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of while was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near while

Cite this Entry

“While.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/while. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

while

1 of 3 noun
ˈhwī(ə)l How to pronounce while (audio)
ˈwī(ə)l
1
: a period of time
stay here for a while
2
: time and effort used
worth your while

while

2 of 3 conjunction
1
a
: during the time that
take a nap while I'm out
b
: as long as
enjoy life while we can
2
: in spite of the fact that : although
while respected, the mayor is not liked

while

3 of 3 verb
whiled; whiling
: to cause to pass pleasantly or without boredom
while away the time

More from Merriam-Webster on while

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