I. CONJUNCTION USES
/(h)waɪl/
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: Usually pronounced / (h)waɪl / for meaning 4. The form 'whilst' is also used in formal or literary English, especially British English.
1.
If something happens while something else is happening, the two things are happening at the same time.
Racing was halted for an hour while the track was repaired...
Her parents could help with child care while she works.
CONJ
2.
If something happens while something else happens, the first thing happens at some point during the time that the second thing is happening.
The two ministers have yet to meet, but may do so while in New York...
Never apply water to a burn from an electric shock while the casualty is still in contact with the electric current.
CONJ
3.
You use while at the beginning of a clause to introduce information which contrasts with information in the main clause.
The first two services are free, while the third costs £35.00.
= whereas
CONJ
4.
You use while , before making a statement, in order to introduce information that partly conflicts with your statement.
While the numbers of such developments are relatively small, the potential market is large...
While the news, so far, has been good, there may be days ahead when it is bad.
= although
CONJ
II. NOUN AND VERB USES
/(h)waɪl/
( whiles, whiling, whiled)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
Please look at category 3 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
A while is a period of time.
They walked on in silence for a while...
He was married a little while ago...
Working at low intensity means that you can continue to perform the activity for a long while.
N-SING : a N , usu adj
2.
You use all the while in order to say that something happens continually or that it happens throughout the time when something else is happening.
All the while the people at the next table watched me eat.
PHRASE : PHR with cl
3.
once in a while: see once
worth your while: see worth