Synonyms of while

while 1 of 2

noun

ˈ(h)wī(-ə)l 

1

as in space

an indefinite but usually short period of time

we stayed at the fair for a while longer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• space
• bit
• span
• day
• minute
• stretch
• spell
• moment
• season
• second
• era
• lapse
• split second
• epoch
• instant
• interval
• interim
• heartbeat
• trice
• nanosecond
• perpetuity
• twinkling
• jiffy
• interlude
• twinkle
• eon
• spurt
• intermission
• infinity
• age
• wink
• beat
• eternity
• shake
• New York minute
• jiff
• flash
• eyeblink

2

as in effort

the active use of energy in producing a result

it's not worth my while to fix it, so we'll get a new one

Synonyms & Similar Words

• effort
• work
• pains
• sweat
• trouble
• energy
• expenditure
• exertion
• labor
• try
• elbow grease
• power
• toil
• drudgery
• might
• attempt
• go
• strain
• muscle
• pass
• endeavor
• dint
• grind
• slog
• essay
• stab
• trial
• force
• travail
• shot
• whack
• fling
• puissance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ease
• facility
• smoothness
• fluency
• inertia
• inaction
• inactivity
• idleness
• laziness
• dormancy
• indolence
• quiescence
• adroitness
• languor

while

2 of 2

conjunction

1

as in when

at or during the time that

pay attention while I'm explaining how the new phone system works

Synonyms & Similar Words

• when
• whilst
• as
• so long as

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• after

2

as in although

in spite of the fact that

while this term paper is very well done, it's still late

Synonyms & Similar Words

• although
• though
• but
• as
• if
• whilst
• when
• albeit
• whereas
• notwithstanding
• much as
• howbeit

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of while

Noun

There would be cheers and tears and, for a little while, a family overwhelmed by medical appointments and life-and-death worries would get to think about something else. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 5 Sep. 2026

And yet, amid their country’s slide into fascism, these folks persisted — for a while longer, at least. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

Adding more memory or faster processors to a single node helps for a while, but vertical scaling stops helping well before the needs are met. — Gopi Duddi, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026

But for the first time in a while, the movie business is running at a high gear, with reason to expect the good times might continue to roll. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing while

• once in a while