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 Learn More About while

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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.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Some of those individuals were infectious while at the three-day musical festival at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. — Emma Stein, Detroit Free Press, 25 July 2021 Danny Irl Kermmoade, 33, drove up to HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center on July 21 at around 1 p.m. with Benji Vaniki Lewis, 29, who had been dead a while, according to court records. — Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 24 July 2021 In only a short while, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo's massive order at a Brookfield Chick-fil-A made national headlines. — Evan Frank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 24 July 2021 LaPorte said that Rachels has been working full-time for a while on Inverse operations, both as an artist and as an administrator. — al, 23 July 2021 For sports like basketball which cannot be done without close contact, the team culture will probably dictate the risk, but things like masking while on the bench can help. — Colleen De Bellefonds, SELF, 23 July 2021 Then Koji got a call while in L.A. during production of Bullet Train about the surprise renewal. — Nick Romano, EW.com, 22 July 2021 Viewers will have a while to say goodbye, however, since Haggerty and Severance, who are married, are expected to remain at KGW until mid-October. — oregonlive, 22 July 2021 Soon after, the pickup crashed head-on into an SUV while fleeing, authorities said. — Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 22 July 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb 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 What’s overlooked is Netflix’s extreme competence at making it easy to buy and while away a lazy afternoon. — Shira Ovide, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2020 Likewise, as middle-class Victorian women began to take up knitting as a hobby, the far more delicate and decorative work was deemed an appropriate way for upper-class women to while away their time. — Sadhbh O'sullivan, refinery29.com, 4 May 2020 These were not the places in which the Detroit Tigers expected to while away their April hours. — Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press, 23 Apr. 2020

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.