while

1 of 4

noun

1
: a period of time especially when short and marked by the occurrence of an action or a condition : time
stay here for a while
2
: the time and effort used (as in the performance of an action) : trouble
worth your while

while

2 of 4

conjunction

1
a
: during the time that
take a nap while I'm out
b
: as long as
while there's life there's hope
2
a
: when on the other hand : whereas
easy for an expert, while it is dangerous for a novice
b
: 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 readerBritish Book News

while

3 of 4

preposition

dialectal British
: until

while

4 of 4

verb

whiled; whiling

transitive verb

: to cause to pass especially without boredom or in a pleasant manner
usually used with away
while away the time

Examples of while in a Sentence

Noun It took them a while to find out what was causing the problem. we stayed at the fair for a while longer Conjunction 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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Longyearbyen, the largest town on the archipelago, is typically viewed as a place to find employment for a while, rather than a place to make into your lifelong residence. Cecilia Blomdahl, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024 Maybe there will be certain lanes on the highway where it would be allowed, at least for a while. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2024 The Angels were locked in a glass box to be put on a bookshelf and marveled at once in a while. Danielle Pergament, Allure, 16 Oct. 2024 The business was steady for a while until JJ gambled their last gold nugget in a race against Topper and Rafe, which was supposed to pay their property taxes. Jordana Comiter, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for while 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'while.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hwīl; akin to Old High German hwīla time, Latin quies rest, quiet

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Preposition

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of while was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near while

Cite this Entry

“While.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/while. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

while

1 of 3 noun
ˈhwī(ə)l How to pronounce while (audio)
ˈwī(ə)l
1
: a period of time
stay here for a while
2
: time and effort used
worth your while

while

2 of 3 conjunction
1
a
: during the time that
take a nap while I'm out
b
: as long as
enjoy life while we can
2
: in spite of the fact that : although
while respected, the mayor is not liked

while

3 of 3 verb
whiled; whiling
: to cause to pass pleasantly or without boredom
while away the time

More from Merriam-Webster on while

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!