awhile C2+ Topic:Time US /əˈwaɪl/ UK /əˈwaɪl/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adv for a short time Rest awhile by the fire before you set out again. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adv · for a short time brieflymomentarilytemporarily ↔ Opposites foreverpermanentlyindefinitely Word family Related forms while Etymology AI details From Old English ane hwile ('a while'), from a/an ('a') + while ('period of time'), from Old English hwil ('space of time'). hwil Old English *kʷeyh₁- Proto-Indo-European View etymology graph -> Topics Time External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # awhile **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /əˈwaɪl/ **IPA (UK):** /əˈwaɪl/ ## Meanings 1. for a short time ## Examples - Rest awhile by the fire before you set out again. ## Synonyms - briefly - momentarily - temporarily ## Antonyms - forever - permanently - indefinitely ## Related Forms - while ## Roots and Affixes - Root: hwil - Root: *kʷeyh₁- ## Etymology From Old English ane hwile ('a while'), from a/an ('a') + while ('period of time'), from Old English hwil ('space of time'). ## AI Etymology Awhile is an adverb meaning "for a short time". Historically, it is from Old English ane hwile ('a while'), from a/an ('a') + while ('period of time'), from Old English hwil ('space of time'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: awhile is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Old English hwil with Proto-Indo-European *kʷeyh₁-. A close English family member is while. This keeps the modern adverb sense tied to the older forms and language sequence behind it. ## Topics - Time markdown