Idioms for while

    all the while, at or during this time; all along: She realized all the while that the cake would fall.
    worth one's while, worth one's time, trouble, or expense: The art exhibition that opened yesterday isn't worth your while.

Origin of while

before 900; Middle English; Old English hwīl; cognate with Dutch wijl, German weile, Old Norse hvīla, Gothic hweila

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH while

while wile

Words nearby while

whig party, whiggish, whiggism, whigmaleerie, whigmaleery, while, while away, while back, while there's life there's hope, while there's life, there's hope, whiles

Words related to while away

consume, devote, employ, kill, go, waste, squander, drift, idle, pass, misuse, fill, laze, fritter, linger, putter, tarry, drag, procrastinate, trail

British Dictionary definitions for while away (1 of 2)

while away

verb

(tr, adverb) to pass (time) idly and usually pleasantly

British Dictionary definitions for while away (2 of 2)

while
/ (waɪl) /

conjunction Also: whilst (waɪlst)

preposition, conjunction

Scot and Northern English dialect another word for until you'll have to wait while Monday for these sheets; you'll never make any progress while you listen to me

noun

See also whiles

Word Origin for while

Old English hwīl; related to Old High German hwīla (German Weile), Gothic hveila, Latin quiēs peace, tranquīlus tranquil

usage for while

It was formerly considered incorrect to use while to mean in spite of the fact that or whereas, but these uses have now become acceptable

Idioms and Phrases with while away (1 of 2)

while away

Spend time idly or pleasantly, as in It was a beautiful day and we whiled away the hours in the garden. This expression is the only surviving use of the verb while, meaning “to spend time.” [First half of 1600s]

Idioms and Phrases with while away (2 of 2)

while