while

noun

\ ˈ(h)wī(-ə)l

Definition of while

(Entry 1 of 4)

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

conjunction

Definition of while (Entry 2 of 4)

1a : during the time that take a nap while I'm out

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

2a : 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

while

preposition

Definition of while (Entry 3 of 4)

dialectal British

: until

while

verb

whiled; whiling

Definition of while (Entry 4 of 4)

transitive verb

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

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing while Learn More About while

Synonyms for while

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Conjunction

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

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun For a while there, NFTs were going strong, with Bored Ape Yacht Club (pictures of sleazy humanoid monkeys) leading the way. — Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 13 May 2022 If the only formula that's available is gluten-free and your baby is not gluten intolerant, the gluten-free formula would be fine for a while, Kirkilas said. — Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 13 May 2022 Scientists had known for a while that a black hole should, in certain circumstances, cast visible shadows. — Seth Fletcher, Scientific American, 12 May 2022 They were tolerated in the notorious Female Dating Strategy subreddit for a while, but were later kicked out. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 12 May 2022 The economy will need to slow down for a while before the workforce and unemployment return to a normal level, said Tell. — Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 12 May 2022 There was nothing funny about the allegations, and Franken stepped away from the public eye for a while. — James Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2022 Nevertheless, Child Protective Services workers told Cox and Dobrozsi they must be supervised around their own children for a while and Dobrozsi's parents came to stay with them to provide that supervision. — Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11 May 2022 These processors also support PCI Express 5.0, though there's not much of a point to it yet—current GPUs and SSDs don't use the new standard yet, and won't for a while. — Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 11 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb 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 It’s one of the most beautiful places in Napa to while away an afternoon. — Kim Westerman, Forbes, 1 Sep. 2021 In one viral photo, one person stands at the gas pump filling a red gas can while another tends to more cans in the back of a white vehicle. — Rick Rouan, USA TODAY, 12 May 2021 In March, Sánchez was furloughed from Made Nice and began to while away quarantine by drafting a dream menu. — Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2020 Some have taken to baking to while away the hours during lockdown; others embraced gardening. — BostonGlobe.com, 28 May 2020 Farvardin Daliri SYDNEY, Australia — Some have taken to baking to while away the hours during coronavirus lockdown; others embraced gardening. — Isabella Kwai, New York Times, 28 May 2020 The restaurant, Trade Route, offers its own take on traditional southern cuisine, and the spa provides a refreshing way to while away an hour or two. — Patti Nickell, chicagotribune.com, 24 Sep. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'while.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.