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
Mullis lived in and around Houston for a while, crashing with anyone who would take him in. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024 Almond Cow Nut Milk Maker Machine 8/28 Almond Cow Nut Milk Maker Machine $250 Amazon For a while there, your dad was making his own oat milk, and the whole operation gave you pause. Annie Blackman, Allure, 21 Sep. 2024 Apple has been offering a basic password manager, the iCloud Keychain, for a while. Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 Next week could be critical in determining whether stocks at all-time highs can sustain their momentum, at least for a little while longer. Sarah Min, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for while 

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 4 Oct. 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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