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
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 reader—
British Book News
British Book News
dialectal British
: until
whiled; whiling
: to cause to pass especially without boredom or in a pleasant manner
—usually used with away
while away the time
Synonyms
Noun
Conjunction
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 WebDan Stillman, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
The Belt: The Sequel has been on the horizon for a while now, with stars like Vanessa Hudgens and Rita Ora bringing back the divisive Y2K-era trend.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for while 
Noun
Forecast in detail Springtime warmth is here to stay for a while.
—Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
The Belt: The Sequel has been on the horizon for a while now, with stars like Vanessa Hudgens and Rita Ora bringing back the divisive Y2K-era trend.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near while
Cite this Entry
“While.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/while. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
while
1 of 3 noun
ˈhwī(ə)l 
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 conjunction1
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share