Advertisement
Advertisement
while
[hwahyl, wahyl]
noun
a period or interval of time.
to wait a long while;
He arrived a short while ago.
Archaic.a particular time or occasion.
conjunction
during or in the time that.
throughout the time that; as long as.
even though; although.
While she appreciated the honor, she could not accept the position.
at the same time that (showing an analogous or corresponding action).
The floor was strewn with books, while magazines covered the tables.
preposition
Archaic.until.
verb (used with object)
to cause (time) to pass, especially in some easy or pleasant manner (usually followed byaway ).
while
/ ɲɪ /
conjunction
(subordinating) at the same time that
please light the fire while I'm cooking
(subordinating) all the time that
I stay inside while it's raining
(subordinating) in spite of the fact that
while I agree about his brilliance I still think he's rude
(coordinating) whereas; and in contrast
flats are expensive, while houses are cheap
(subordinating; used with a gerund) during the activity of
while walking I often whistle
preposition
dialectanother word for until
you'll have to wait while Monday for these sheets
you'll never make any progress while you listen to me
noun
(usually used in adverbial phrases) a period or interval of time
once in a long while
trouble or time (esp in the phrase worth one's while )
it's hardly worth your while to begin work today
at that time
he was working the while
Usage
Word History and Origins
Origin of while1
Word History and Origins
Origin of while1
Idioms and Phrases
worth one's while, worth one's time, trouble, or expense.
The art exhibition that opened yesterday isn't worth your while.
all the while. all the while.
Example Sentences
His comeback single Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else, a propulsive new wave anthem, peaked at number 20 in the UK charts, while Beautiful Things still continued to remain stubbornly lodged in the top 10.
Drivers and pedestrians have been urged to stay away from the area, while a temporary airspace restriction has been put in place until 13:00 on Wednesday to prevent drones from flying overhead.
Tournament director Laura Robson said there had been no complaints over the courts after a week of absorbing action, while the success of the British contingent has contributed to the feel-good atmosphere in London.
One of the labour suppliers is understood to remain suspended from new contracts while inquiries continue.
But while extending large sites might be cheaper, the move is likely to anger local residents and refugee rights groups.
Advertisement
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse