Definition of while
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Examples of while in a Sentence
It took them a while to find out what was causing the problem.
we stayed at the fair for a while longer
Recent Examples of while from the Web
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For a while, Riddle Highlands and Bishop Park were filled with longtime, older residents whose children were grown and had left the house.
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The cause of the Detwiler fire is still unknown, and with high winds and particularly hot temperatures forecast, firefighters expect to be tackling the blaze for a while.
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The officers watched for a while as the men used black pipes to water the plants, then began moving toward them, according to an affidavit filed by U.S. Forest Service special agent Nickolas Roe.
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Also, most of my friends have been happily married for a while.
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Venezuela and Colombia Relations between Colombia and Venezuela have been troubled for a while, with each side accusing the other of exporting their problems across the border.
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Mac games have a substantially larger addressable market, the economics of scale are more favorable, and for a while, the hardware was in a sweet spot.
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Lenovo’s Yoga line has been my go-to choice as the top 2-in-1 convertible on the market for a while.
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And the Trump administration will surely have plenty of use for that service for a while yet.
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.
Origin and Etymology of while
Middle English, from Old English hwīl; akin to Old High German hwīla time, Latin quies rest, quiet
while
Definition of while
1a : during the time that take a nap while I'm outb : 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 noviceb : 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
Examples of while in a Sentence
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.
First Known Use of while
12th century
First Known Use of while
15th century
while
Definition of while
whiled
;whiling
transitive verb
: to cause to pass especially without boredom or in a pleasant manner —usually used with away while away the time
Recent Examples of while from the Web
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Its raison d'etre was bon vivance; good food and good times, a place to while away lazy summer days, eat heartily and drink well.
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But the Cube was fundamentally a cerebral, calm pursuit, perfect for the latchkey children of the 1980s to while away their lonely, Xbox-free hours.
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Here’s a look at 10 places to while away the afternoon for less than $10 (adult admission, other discounts often available).
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Many leisure travelers use laptops and tablets to while away the hours watching movies or playing games, or to keep their kids entertained.
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Many leisure travelers use laptops and tablets to while away the hours watching movies or playing games, or to keep their kids entertained.
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While two additional units are being planned for Shin Kori, their future is in doubt following the election.
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.
First Known Use of while
1635
WHILE Defined for English Language Learners
while
Definition of while for English Language Learners
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: during the time that
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—used to make a statement that describes how two people, groups, etc., are different
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: in spite of the fact that
WHILE Defined for Kids
Definition of while for Students
1 : a period of time Let's rest a while.
2 : time and effort used in doing something I'll make it worth your while to help out.
Definition of while for Students
whiled
;whiling
: to cause to pass especially in a pleasant way We whiled away the time with games.
Learn More about while
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for while Spanish Central: Translation of while Nglish: Translation of while for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of while for Arabic speakers
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