while

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a period of indeterminate length, usually short, marked by some action or condition

   They were here for a little while.

2. 2
   noun

   An uncertain duration of time, a period of time.

   He lectured for quite a long while.

3. 3
   conj

   During the same time that.

   He was sleeping while I was singing.

4. 4
   conj

   Although.

   This case, while interesting, is a bit frustrating.

5. 5
   conj

   Until.

   I'll wait while you've finished painting.

6. 6
   conj

   As long as.

   While you're at school you may live at home.

7. 7
   prep

   Until.

   I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight.

8. 8
   verb

   To pass (time) idly.

   I whiled away the hours whilst waiting for him to arrive

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).