awhile

adverb

ə-ˈ(h)wī(-ə)l 

: for a while

Sit and rest awhile.

Usage of Awhile

Awhile and a while are increasingly used interchangeably, but a distinction is traditionally observed: awhile is an adverb that means "for a while" (that is, "for a period of time") and a while is a noun phrase meaning "a period of time." Awhile usually modifies a verb

was waiting awhile

stopping at the park awhile [= stopping awhile at the park]

; it can typically replace any instance of "for a while." The two-word form a while is used with the words ago or back,

a while ago/back

and when following a preposition.

I read for a while.

We'll see them in a while.

Examples of awhile in a Sentence

I'm going to sit and rest awhile.

The rumor had been around awhile.

Recent Examples on the Web

While the premise never changed, the drama became untitled for awhile until finally going with Stranger Things at the 11th hour, and its setting was moved to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025

It’s been awhile since I got hit. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Dec. 2025

It's been awhile since Buffalo Wild Wings had a presence in the Highlands neighborhood, since a former location of the restaurant at 1055 Bardstown Road closed in 2018. —Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Dec. 2025

And my daddy would go in and talk awhile. —David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

adverbial use of a while (written as one word sporadically since Middle English), going back to Middle English awhile, one while, going back to Old English āne hwīle — more at a entry 2, while entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for awhile

• argyle
• beguile
• compile
• condyle
• defile
• erstwhile
• exile
• freestyle
• gentile
• hairstyle
• lifestyle
• meanwhile

Kids Definition

awhile

adverb

ə-ˈhwī(ə)l 

ə-ˈwī(ə)l

: for a while : for a short time

sit and rest awhile