english
1
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with WHILE, Also see ALL THE TIME (WHILE); A WHILE BACK; EVERY NOW AND THEN (ONCE IN A WHILE); FIDDLE WHILE ROME BURNS; GET OUT WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD; IN A WHILE; MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES; ONCE IN A WHILE; QUIT WHILE YOU' RE AHEAD; STRIKE WHILE THE IRON'S HOT; WORTH ONE'S WHILE.
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
conj.
during the time:
It was nice while it lasted.
noun
time:
It wasn't worth my while.
conj.
whereas:
The top is red while the rest is white.
Simple Definitions
3
general::
noun ADJ. brief, little, short | fair, good, long, some Things continued quiet for some while. VERB + WHILE take I'll mend it for you, but it could take a while. PREP. after a ~ After a while, I began to get bored with my job. | for a/the ~ They chatted for a while. There's no need to do anything for the while. | in a ~ I'll be back in a while. PHRASES all the while The bird hopped across the lawn, keeping a sharp lookout all the while. | once in a while Everybody makes a mistake once in a while (= occasionally). | (for) quite a while He kept me waiting for quite a while. | a while back The problems started a while back.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
4
general::
while
during the time that you are doing something, or something is happening:
• I bought a magazine while I was waiting for the train. • While we were on holiday, my bag was stolen.
meanwhile
at the same time as something else is happening:
• They’re still working on our bedroom. Meanwhile, we’re sleeping downstairs. • The Russians, meanwhile, declared war on August 8.
in the meantime
during the period of time between now and a future event, or between two events in the past:
• More aid is expected soon, but in the meantime these people are going hungry. • My new job hadn’t started, so in the meantime I tried to write a book.
whilst
British English while. Whilst sounds a little more formal than while:
• One American plane was forced to land whilst flying over North Korea. • Whilst all this was going on, the performers were getting ready for the show.
Longman-Thesaurus
5
general::
while sth away
[ M ]
to spend time in a relaxed way because you have nothing to do or you are waiting for something else to happen
• We whiled away the afternoon playing cards in front of the fire.
• That's the bar where Sara and I used to while away the hours between lectures.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs