Awhile: meaning, definitions and examples

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awhile

 

[ əˈwaɪl ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

time duration

Awhile is an adverb meaning for a short period of time. It is often used to suggest that something will happen or should happen after a brief interval.

Synonyms

briefly, for a bit, momentarily, temporarily

Examples of usage

  • Please wait awhile before you leave.
  • She sat awhile to catch her breath.
  • I’ll be back in awhile.
  • Let’s talk for awhile before making a decision.

Translations

Translations of the word "awhile" in other languages:

🇵🇹 um tempo

🇮🇳 कुछ समय

🇩🇪 eine Weile

🇮🇩 sejenak

🇺🇦 трохи часу

🇵🇱 chwila

🇯🇵 しばらく

🇫🇷 un moment

🇪🇸 un rato

🇹🇷 bir süre

🇰🇷 잠시

🇸🇦 لفترة قصيرة

🇨🇿 chvíli

🇸🇰 chvíľu

🇨🇳 一段时间

🇸🇮 nekaj časa

🇮🇸 smá stund

🇰🇿 біраз уақыт

🇬🇪 რამდენიმე ხანი

🇦🇿 bir müddət

🇲🇽 un rato

Etymology

The word 'awhile' is a combination of 'a' and 'while'. The 'a' in this context is an archaic form of 'for', a usage that has mostly fallen out of modern English, while 'while' refers to a span of time. 'While' itself comes from Old English 'hwile', which means a certain period of time or duration. The use of 'awhile' dates back to the late 14th century, cementing its place in English as a term denoting a brief time frame. It is often confused with the phrase 'a while', where 'while' functions as a noun; however, 'awhile' is strictly an adverb.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,683, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.