What are synonyms of "while"?

Common synonyms for while include: during, meanwhile, whereas, spell, interval.

🇬🇧English to English[while]

while

Q: What is the meaning of "while" in English?

In English, while (conjunction) means: "During the time that; at the same time as.".

Q: How do you use "while" in a sentence?

Example sentence with while: "She likes to listen to music while she studies."

/waɪl/beginner Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.conjunction

During the time that; at the same time as.

Example Sentences:

“She likes to listen to music while she studies.”
“Please watch the bags while I buy our tickets.”

2.conjunction

Although; whereas.

Example Sentences:

“While I understand your point, I still disagree with your decision.”
“Some people prefer city life, while others prefer the countryside.”

3.noun

A period of time.

Example Sentences:

“We decided to rest for a while after the long hike.”
“It has been quite a while since we last met.”

4.verb

To pass time in a pleasant or leisurely way (usually used with 'away').

Example Sentences:

“They spent the afternoon whiling away the hours reading novels by the lake.”

Share & Learn With Friends

Share “while” with study groups, classmates, or on your social channels.

WhatsApp Post Facebook LinkedIn

English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

during meanwhile whereas spell interval

English Antonyms & Opposites

never instantly

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “while”.

Thesaurus Entry

Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from Old English 'hwīle', meaning 'time, space of time', of Germanic origin. It is related to Old High German 'wīla' and modern German 'Weile'. The conjunction use developed from the noun phrase 'the while' (during the time that).

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of 'while' as 'what I like elapsed', helping you remember it measures a duration of time.

Common Collocations & Phrases

for a while worth your while meanwhile once in a while

Rhyming Words

file mile tile

Frequently Asked Questions About “while”

1. What is the meaning of “while” in English?

In English, while (conjunction) is defined as: “During the time that; at the same time as.”.

2. How do you use “while” in a sentence?

“She likes to listen to music while she studies.”

3. What are English synonyms of “while”?

Common synonyms include:during,meanwhile,whereas,spell,interval

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “while”?

🇬🇧More English Words to English

View all English words →

1 second

The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.

1.77 hours

A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.

10^9

The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.

106 minutes

A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.