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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of while
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2025
Miller’s curious deployment Miller’s ice time and deployment are worth watching over the next little while.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
For a while now, it’s seemed those were the first words of the incoming year after a particularly horrid annum.
—Brenda Looper, arkansasonline.com, 2 Jan. 2025
People within Barcelona have been raving about Kochen’s potential for a while.
—Laia Cervelló Herrero, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for while 
Noun
However, if the soil stays saturated for a while, plant roots start to die and this leads to issues like root rot and plant decline.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2025
Miller’s curious deployment Miller’s ice time and deployment are worth watching over the next little while.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
For a while now, it’s seemed those were the first words of the incoming year after a particularly horrid annum.
—Brenda Looper, arkansasonline.com, 2 Jan. 2025
People within Barcelona have been raving about Kochen’s potential for a while.
—Laia Cervelló Herrero, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for while
Recent Examples of Synonyms for while
Noun
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Such images can especially help STEM students see the value in humanistic questions, not least because curiosity cabinets were some of the original interdisciplinary spaces.The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 8 Jan. 2025
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In our era of consolidation and polarization, many online spaces can seem dreary, toxic, addicting, or some combination of the three.Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Protecting those at-risk people from severe effects of respiratory illness and norovirus requires a group effort, said Mohammed Raja, MD, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.John Loeppky, Verywell Health, 11 Jan. 2025
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TikTok mounted a last-ditch effort at the Supreme Court on Friday meant to stop a ban of the app set to take effect within days -- but the platform's arguments may have landed with a thud.Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And that has stoked concerns about chemical bits lingering in the final product.Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Jan. 2025
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This is a little bit different from the ECC on DDR4, which was an extra module present on chips intended for server or commercial use.Brad Bourque, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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First performed in 1927, Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s work is a pioneering tale of romance, race and American culture at a turning point.Joshua Barone, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
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The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.Joseph Cimpian, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2025
Conjunction
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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
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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
Thesaurus Entries Near while
Cite this Entry
“While.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/while. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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