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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of while
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 June 2025
The Gen 6 is designed to last a good while as a mid-tier handset.
—New Atlas, 28 June 2025
That was a celebration of the last in-person draft (or so everyone thought) for a while, and the venue on the Las Vegas Strip stood out as the star.
—Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
Sometimes that’s enough to glue us back together, at least for a little while.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for while
Noun
Following media chatter about her affairs with Italian producer Enrico Bomba and comedian Nelson Sardelli, Mansfield and Mickey divorced in 1964, though their relationship had been on the rocks for a while.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 June 2025
The Gen 6 is designed to last a good while as a mid-tier handset.
—New Atlas, 28 June 2025
That was a celebration of the last in-person draft (or so everyone thought) for a while, and the venue on the Las Vegas Strip stood out as the star.
—Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
Sometimes that’s enough to glue us back together, at least for a little while.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for while
Recent Examples of Synonyms for while
Noun
-
Sean is going to show you one of the biggest companies in the space.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
7 July 2025
-
Collagen cream is a notably burgeoning—and buzzy—category in the skin-care space these days.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Fighting wildfires has long been a collective effort, with firefighting resources shared among states and even countries.—
Sarah Cutler
June 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 June 2025
-
Barrett earlier had ruled against the Trump administration’s efforts to freeze foreign aide funding, drawing criticism from the right.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
The Bruins did a little bit of business on Sunday, signing forward Marat Khusnutdinov and defenseman Michael Callahan to two- and one-year deals, respectively.—
Stephen Conroy,
Hartford Courant,
30 June 2025
-
The beloved mega rest stop has officially opened its doors at its first Virginia location, bringing a little bit of Texas to the Commonwealth.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
The agency ordered Gateway Energy Storage to conduct environmental monitoring whenever the company handles batteries; safely remove, package and dispose of all impacted battery packs; and submit detailed work plans and progress reports to the agency.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 July 2025
-
There is a lot of work ahead for Haliburton on his road to recovery.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 July 2025
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 Jul. 2025.
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