Meaning & use
while
During the time that; at the same time as.
See it in a sentence
She read a book while waiting for the bus to arrive.
He hummed a tune while washing the dishes after dinner.
A note on using this word
While can signal simple simultaneity or, in its contrastive sense below, an unexpected difference between two facts.
Words with a similar meaning
aswhen
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. conjunction
Although; whereas, used to contrast two facts or ideas.
While I understand your concern, I still think the plan is worth trying.
3. noun
A period of time, especially a short or unspecified one.
We sat together in silence for a while before saying goodbye.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “while”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.