whiles

noun

Definition of whilesnext
plural of while
1
as in minutes
an indefinite but usually short period of time we stayed at the fair for a while longer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in works
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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of whiles UCHealth’s decision to postpone surgeries whiles staff addressed the sterilization problem stands out from other hospitals that have found themselves in similar situations. — Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiles
  1. minutes
  2. works
  3. bits
  4. efforts
  5. days
  6. pains
  7. moments
  8. exertions
Noun
  • Rest for at least 30 minutes, ideally 1 to 2 hours at room temperature.
    — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Zero would mean exactly the same players playing exactly the same share of minutes; 100 per cent reflects an entirely new team.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of minutes
Noun
  • Ellis’ other works include Less Than Zero and American Psycho.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The concept started as a way to give artists a forum for selling their works and bringing the community together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of works
Noun
  • This flavorful mix of fruit bits makes a refreshing snack or a healthy treat for lunch boxes.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Even the visuals, which evoke an old-fashioned style as possible — despite some jarring bits of CG imagery — use the same language Lucasfilm veterans like Doug Chiang have developed over the decades.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of bits
Noun
  • The Fulton County Commission unanimously voted Wednesday to adopt a resolution formally opposing efforts by development authorities to reduce property taxes as a data center recruitment tool.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • In a statement, a Taylor Farms spokesperson said that the company invested hundreds of millions of dollars a year in food safety efforts and went above and beyond industry standards and legal requirements.
    — Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of efforts
Noun
  • In September 2025, Kotb beamed from ear to ear on Haley Joy and Hope’s first days of third and first grade, respectively.
    — Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • North of the border, in British Columbia, hundreds more homes were lost this week, and 15,000 people are currently under evacuation, with extreme fire weather conditions predicted to worsen in the coming days.
    — John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of days
Noun
  • Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, then 46, died in 2025 after complaining of severe chest pains.
    — Finch Walker, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • And Ford’s Bergg took pains to emphasize that its low price wasn’t coming from where customers would notice.
    — Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of pains
Noun
  • The most chatter from fans of Roku City — yes, a screen saver has many, many devotees — springs from the Easter eggs, a revolving selection of more than 40 pop-culture moments and nostalgic references that populate the screen.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
  • There are a few brief, shining glimpses of the chemistry and character moments that made the first movie such a joy—like the early party scene where the team tries to lift Thor’s hammer—but Ultron is otherwise a slog.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of moments
Noun
  • With that, his exertions in perfecting his homegrown colony process—the green smoothie for caterpillars, testing procedures for parasites—came into clearer view for me.
    — Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
  • Thanks to the quality of the fish, word of mouth, foreign guidebooks, and now Moe’s exertions on Instagram, there are long lines at the door, especially on weekends.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Definition of exertions

Browse Nearby Words

while
whiles
whilom
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whiles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiles. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on whiles

Nglish: Translation of whiles for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All