while

while is on the Basic English 850 List.

where - while - whip

while is one of the 1000 most common headwords.

which - while - white

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ʍaɪl/, SAMPA: /WaIl/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /waɪl/, SAMPA: /waIl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: wile

Preposition

Preposition while

1. If ${\displaystyle x}$ happens while ${\displaystyle y}$ happens, they happen at the same time.

   He fell asleep while sitting at his desk.

Noun

Singular while

Plural none

1. A while is a short time.

   After a while I will stop working and cook food for us.

Verb

Plain form while

Third-person singular whiles

Past tense whiled

Past participle whiled

Present participle whiling

1. If you while away the time, you spend it doing something not very productive.

   On Sundays, I like to while away the hours by reading.