while

Meanings

1. 1
   conj

   During the time that; at the same time as.

   He fell asleep while watching television.

2. 2
   noun

   A period of time, usually short.

   Let's rest here for a while.

3. 3
   conj

   Although; whereas; used to show a contrast.

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

4. 4
   verb

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

   We whiled away the afternoon playing cards.

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).

Topics