/waɪl/
Translation
During the time that something else is happening, or used to show a difference.
Word origin
From Old English hwil, meaning a length of time, the same word seen in the phrase a little while.
- Origin
- Old English
- Root
- hwil
Examples
.
"While" shows the two things happened at the same time.
.
"While" links one action to the time of another.
, .
Here "while" shows a difference between two people.
Used in
Stories
(16)The Journey
3 min read · Core 1000
Before the Doors Open
4 min read · Core 5000
One Sheep Short
4 min read · Core 5000
The Boat in the Garden
4 min read · Core 5000
The Broken Window
4 min read · Core 5000
The Clock in the Hall
4 min read · Core 5000
Not in Front of Them
5 min read · Core 1000
The Box in the Wood
5 min read · Core 5000
The First Letter
5 min read · Core 5000
The Midnight Piano
5 min read · Core 5000
The Night Route
5 min read · Core 5000
The Photograph
5 min read · Core 5000
The Suggestion Box
5 min read · Core 5000
The Swimming Lesson
5 min read · Core 5000
The Tuesday Visitor
5 min read · Core 5000
The Last Light
8 min read · Core 5000
Grammar articles
(23)Both, either and neither in English: the two-of-something words, agreement traps, and Me neither
Cleft sentences in English: it was X who, what I need is, and how to move the emphasis
Comparatives and superlatives in English: the complete guide
Countable and uncountable nouns in English: advice, information, news and the ones you simply have to learn
Discourse markers in English: well, anyway, actually, mind you and by the way
Ellipsis and substitution in English: I think so, neither do I, and the words you are allowed to leave out
Future continuous and future perfect in English: will be doing vs will have done
Gerund and infinitive: which verb form comes next?
Indirect questions in English: Could you tell me where the station is, and the word order that goes with it
Linking words in English: however, although, despite, whereas and therefore
Modals of deduction in English: must be, might be, could be and can't be
Nominalisation in English: arrive becomes arrival, decide becomes decision, and why written English turns actions into things
Participle clauses in English: -ing and -ed clauses, and the dangling participle trap
Advanced passive structures in English: the get-passive, it is said that, and passives with two objects
Past continuous tense: was and were plus -ing, and when to use it instead of the past simple
Past simple tense: rules, examples and when to use it
Present perfect continuous: have been doing, and how it differs from the present perfect
Present perfect tense: rules, examples and when to use it
Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns in English: myself, yourself, each other, and when English does not bother
Time clauses in English: when, while, as soon as, until, before and after
Used to, would and be used to: talking about past habits and states in English
Wish and if only in English: wish + past, wish + past perfect, wish + would, and why I wish I would is wrong
Word formation with prefixes: un-, in-, im-, dis-, re-, over-, under- and mis-
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 6.