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 All the while, McBreen was a menace on both sides of the ball, accounting for three touchdowns. — oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2021 All the while, Scott Dixon eyes a seventh title, something only achieved by Mr. IndyCar himself, A.J. Foyt. — Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Sep. 2021 The Paradisians dance politely, all the while marveling at the grotesque display of PDA happening between Chris C. and Alana. — Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2021 Stockholm Fashion Week has come to a close, and all the while, photographer Søren Jepsen was on the ground capturing the city’s most stylish. — Madeline Fass, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2021 All the while, the United States has continued to provide about $1 billion a year to the Ugandan government, in part to support the largest refugee population in Africa. — Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2021 But all the while, experts warned of the highly infectious delta taking hold. — Kellie Hwang, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Aug. 2021 All the while, those same players face a sobering reality. — Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 27 Aug. 2021 All the while, Evans is aware of the invisible choreography of the beach. — New York Times, 26 Aug. 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.