while 1 of 2

noun

ˈ(h)wī(-ə)l How to pronounce while (audio)
Definition of whilenext
1
as in space
an indefinite but usually short period of time we stayed at the fair for a while longer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in effort
the active use of energy in producing a result it's not worth my while to fix it, so we'll get a new one

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

while

2 of 2

conjunction

1
as in when
at or during the time that pay attention while I'm explaining how the new phone system works

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in although
in spite of the fact that while this term paper is very well done, it's still late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of while
Noun
The girls of Tuide, despite their young age, have been preparing for this debut for a while, with some members training for as little as eight months, while others trained for over four and a half years. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026 And in a new head coach who feels like the Dolphins’ best hire in a long, long while. — Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026 And follow-up testing on Sunday morning confirmed the Dolphins will be without him for a while. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026 All the while, oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have virtually halted as Tehran clings to its leverage by threatening to strike any unauthorized oil tankers that attempt to transit the narrow waterway. — Reuters, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for while
Recent Examples of Synonyms for while
  1. space
  2. effort
  3. but
  4. bit
  5. work
Noun
  • Assign the task, organize the space, or clarify the expectation.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The fragrance is a delicious mix of sweet, fruity, and floral, thanks to notes of citrus, agave, and jasmine, offering a bright and cheerful scent to your space.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of space
Noun
  • Its architecture could contribute to future efforts involving inexpensive rockets produced in much larger quantities.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Poor Anton has been left out of the drama all day, an effort by Billie and Samir to prevent an already bad futzing from escalating to something severe, and that’s never where Anton likes to be.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of effort
Conjunction
  • But with a full and volatile season behind them, the two have grown closer, prompting check-ins from Bradford last month, seeking tidbits from his coach who watched OTA practices on a tablet from his Kentucky retreat.
    — Chad Graff, Twin Cities, 15 June 2017
  • The tech firm didn’t pull that video down, but reached out to police.
    — Queenie Wong, The Mercury News, 3 May 2017
Definition of but
Noun
  • But the tricky bit is doing so without eviscerating Congress’ regulatory powers across a lot of different dimensions, including criminal law, that the justices may also think important.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The terrific new album was played in its entirety during the middle portion of Squeeze’s set and evoked a little bit of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds in some spots.
    — David Chiu, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of bit
Noun
  • Users reported problems with Outlook, while OpenAI said users may experience problems starting or continuing tasks in ChatGPT Work, temporarily disabling two of the modern office's favorite methods of assigning more work.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Aquarius January 20 – February 18 A vague request could create an impressive amount of unnecessary work today.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of work

Phrases Containing while

Browse Nearby Words

whiffs
while
whiles
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Cite this Entry

“While.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/while. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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