Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. while, piece, spell, patch(noun)

   a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition

   "he was here for a little while"; "I need to rest for a piece"; "a spell of good weather"; "a patch of bad weather"

Wiktionary(4.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. while(Noun)

   A certain duration of time, a period of time.

   He lectured for quite a long while.

2. while(Verb)

   To pass (time) idly.

3. while(Conjunction)

   During the same time that.

   He was sleeping while I was singing.

4. while(Conjunction)

   although

   This case, while interesting, is a bit frustrating.

5. while(Conjunction)

   until

Origin: hwil. Cognate with wil.

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. While(noun)

   space of time, or continued duration, esp. when short; a time; as, one while we thought him innocent

2. While(noun)

   that which requires time; labor; pains

3. While(verb)

   to cause to pass away pleasantly or without irksomeness or disgust; to spend or pass; -- usually followed by away

4. While(verb)

   to loiter

5. While

   during the time that; as long as; whilst; at the same time that; as, while I write, you sleep

6. While

   hence, under which circumstances; in which case; though; whereas

7. While

   until; till

Origin: [AS. hwl; akin to OS. hwl, hwla, OFries. hwle, D. wigl, G. weile, OHG. wla, hwla, hwl, Icel. hvla a bed, hvld rest, Sw. hvila, Dan. hvile, Goth. hweila a time, and probably to L. quietus quiet, and perhaps to Gr. the proper time of season. 20. Cf. Quiet, Whilom.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. While

   "While" is a word in the English language that functions both as a noun and as a subordinating conjunction. Its meaning varies largely based on its intended function, position in the phrase and even the writer or speaker's regional dialect. As a conjunction, it is synonymous with the word "whilst", a form often considered archaic in American and Canadian English, as well as in some style guides on both sides of the Atlantic.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. While

   hwīl, n. a space of time: trouble spent.—adv. during the time that: at the same time that, as long as.—v.t. to cause to pass without irksomeness (with away).—conjs. While, Whilst, as long as: at the same time that: (Shak.) until; Whiles (B.), while, at the same time that.—adv. (Scot.) at times (orig. gen. of A.S. hwíl).—advs. Whī′lom, Whī′lome (Milt.), formerly, once (orig. dat. pl. of A.S. hwíl, time).—Every once in a while, now and then; The while (Shak.), in the meantime; The whilst (Shak.), while: in the meantime; Worth while, worth the trouble and time taken. [A.S. hwíl; Goth. hweila, Ger. weile.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'while' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #149

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'while' in Written Corpus Frequency: #554

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'while' in Nouns Frequency: #744

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of while in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of while in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Sample Sentences & Example Usage

1. President Obama:

   Not while I’m speaking.

2. Julie Mignerey:

   It's going to take a while.

3. Phish:

   Can't I live while I'm young

4. Charles Krauthammer:

   While you are walking the line.

5. Marco Rubio:

   While we are on the right side.

Images & Illustrations of while

Popularity rank by frequency of use