while

A2 Topic:Grammar & Function Words

US /ʍaɪl/ See IPA manual

Freq #303

Meanings

1

conj
During the time that; at the same time as.

He fell asleep while watching television.
2

noun
A period of time, usually short.

Let's rest here for a while.
3

conj
Although; whereas; used to show a contrast.

While I understand your point, I don't agree with it.
4

verb
To spend time in a relaxed way, especially while waiting.

We whiled away the afternoon playing cards.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with while

while away Phrasal verb A2

to spend a period of time in a pleasant or relaxed way

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 conj · during the time that; at... whilst

4 verb · to spend time in a relaxed... idle

More as until when whilom

Opposites

since until

Word family

Forms whiledwhiling

Derived forms awhile meanwhilesort-while-pickwait-a-whilewhile-erewhilerewhiles whilst worthwhile

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

while away
to spend a period of time in a pleasant or relaxed way

Verb + adverb

Idioms (2)

See all

Etymology

From Middle English whyle, from Old English hwīl, from Proto-West Germanic *hwīlu, from Proto-Germanic *hwīlō (compare Dutch wijl, Low German Wiel, German Weile, Danish hvile (“rest”), Norwegian Bokmål hvile (“rest”)), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“to rest”). Cognate with Albanian sillë (“breakfast”), Latin tranquillus, Sanskrit चिर (cirá), Persian شاد (šâd).

*kʷyeh₁- Proto-Indo-European whyle Middle English hwīl Old English *hwīlu Proto-West Germanic *hwīlō Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Grammar & Function Words

External links

# while

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** conj, noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ʍaɪl/
**Frequency rank:** 303

## Meanings
1. During the time that; at the same time as.
2. A period of time, usually short.
3. Although; whereas; used to show a contrast.
4. To spend time in a relaxed way, especially while waiting.

## Examples
- He fell asleep while watching television.
- Let's rest here for a while.
- While I understand your point, I don't agree with it.
- We whiled away the afternoon playing cards.

## Synonyms
- as
- until
- when
- whilom

## Antonyms
- since
- until

## Derived Forms
- awhile
- meanwhile
- sort-while-pick
- wait-a-while
- while-ere
- whilere
- whiles
- whilst
- worthwhile

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *kʷyeh₁-
- Root: whyle
- Root: hwīl
- Root: *hwīlu
- Root: *hwīlō

## Etymology
From Middle English whyle, from Old English hwīl, from Proto-West Germanic *hwīlu, from Proto-Germanic *hwīlō (compare Dutch wijl, Low German Wiel, German Weile, Danish hvile (“rest”), Norwegian Bokmål hvile (“rest”)), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“to rest”). Cognate with Albanian sillë (“breakfast”), Latin tranquillus, Sanskrit चिर (cirá), Persian شاد (šâd).

## AI Etymology
While is from Middle English whyle, from Old English hwīl, from Proto-West Germanic *hwīlu, from Proto-Germanic *hwīlō (compare Dutch wijl, Low German Wiel, German Weile, Danish hvile (“rest”), Norwegian Bokmål hvile (“rest”)), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“to rest”). Cognate with Albanian sillë (“breakfast”), Latin tranquillus, Sanskrit चिर (cirá), Persian شاد (šâd). Important historical forms include Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁-, Middle English whyle, Old English hwīl, Proto-West Germanic *hwīlu, and Proto-Germanic *hwīlō. In present-day use, it can mean during the time that; at the same time as, or a period of time, usually short.

## Topics
- Grammar & Function Words

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