1
as in space
an indefinite but usually short period of time
we stayed at the fair for a while longer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of while
Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
Even if your seedlings have been indoors for a while, don’t rush to transplant them outside if the weather is still too cold.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2026
Kirby Smart’s been there for a while.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
For a while, Cordell succeeded.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for while
Noun
And Al Green, the city’s last major superstar—at least for a while—had ditched Hi Records and bought a church.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
Even if your seedlings have been indoors for a while, don’t rush to transplant them outside if the weather is still too cold.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2026
Kirby Smart’s been there for a while.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
For a while, Cordell succeeded.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for while
Recent Examples of Synonyms for while
Noun
-
Finding space elsewhere helped in both matches against Sunderland, with an overlapping run from Riccardo Calafiori creating space for Trossard away from home.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Musk’s trimming of his previous space travel predictions came after SpaceX acquired XAI last week, in a move that will merge two of his most ambitious companies into the most valuable private firm in the world.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The collar will help scientists understand the movement patterns and reproductive behavior of the Sierra Nevada red fox, providing key insights to guide conservation efforts.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The former county clerk in Colorado was convicted of multiple crimes for letting someone access data from a secure voting system in an effort to prove unsubstantiated 2020 election conspiracies.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The numbers have been slowly ticking up for over a year – a rare bit of good news for a government that has spent billions of dollars for more than a decade encouraging people to do just that.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
What & Why Rhode Island digs into this curious bit of beach trivia.—
Kathleen Hill,
The Providence Journal,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This work offers a new platform for designing efficient photo-electrocatalysts and advancing next-generation solar–electrochemical energy conversion systems.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The opening night celebration in September features violinist Joshua Bell, after which Shelley will guide the season through a series of classic works, beginning with Mahler’s Second Symphony.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Conjunction
-
But scientists and doctors say things aren’t that simple — and a belief that exposing children to marijuana, either directly or indirectly, is harmless isn’t supported by the facts.—
Daniel M. Jimenez,
The Cannifornian,
22 June 2017
-
But with a full and volatile season behind them, the two have grown closer, prompting check-ins from Bradford last month, seeking tidbits from his coach who watched OTA practices on a tablet from his Kentucky retreat.—
Chad Graff,
Twin Cities,
15 June 2017
Cite this Entry
“While.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/while. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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