While: meaning, definitions and examples
⏳
while
[ waɪl ]
connecting words or phrases
used to indicate a contrast or opposition between two clauses or phrases
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- I like tea, while my sister prefers coffee.
- She is studying, while her friends are playing.
period of time
a period of time
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- I worked there for a while.
- She'll be back in a while.
to pass the time
spend time in a specified way or in a particular place
Synonyms
pass, spend
Examples of usage
- I while away the hours reading.
- They whiled the evening away playing cards.
Translations
Translations of the word "while" in other languages:
🇵🇹 enquanto
- enquanto isso
- durante o tempo que
🇮🇳 जबकि
- के दौरान
- जब तक
🇩🇪 während
- solange
- währenddessen
🇮🇩 sementara
- selama
- sedangkan
🇺🇦 поки
- тоді як
- в той час як
🇵🇱 podczas gdy
- gdy
- dopóki
🇯🇵 〜の間
- 〜している間
- 〜の時に
🇫🇷 pendant que
- tandis que
- alors que
🇪🇸 mientras
- mientras tanto
- durante
🇹🇷 iken
- sırasında
- esnasında
🇰🇷 동안
- 하는 동안
- ~하는 동안
🇸🇦 بينما
- في حين
- خلال
🇨🇿 zatímco
- během
- když
🇸🇰 kým
- zatiaľ čo
- počas
🇨🇳 当
- 而
- 在...期间
🇸🇮 medtem ko
- ko
- medtem
🇮🇸 á meðan
- á sama tíma og
- á meðan á því stendur
🇰🇿 кезінде
- аралығында
- сол уақытта
🇬🇪 სანამ
- როცა
- როდესაც
🇦🇿 zamanı
- müddətində
- olarkən
🇲🇽 mientras
- mientras tanto
- durante
Etymology
The word 'while' originated in Middle English from the Old English word 'hwīl'. It has been used for centuries in English language, evolving to have different meanings and uses over time. The conjunction usage to indicate contrast has been a common feature of English grammar, while the noun and verb forms have also been widely used in various contexts.
See also: whilst.