Pronunciation

/wɪl/

Definitions

• Adverb: Expressing duration or condition during which something occurs; typically used with ‘while’ in clauses to indicate that an action takes place during another action. For example: “I’ll wait here while you finish your work.”
• Preposition: In some cases, used to introduce a clause that contrasts with the main clause, often indicating a concurrent or contrasting action. For example: “While he was sleeping, she studied for her exam.”

Phrases

• “While I was cooking, the phone rang.”
• “While you’re away, I’ll take care of the pets.”
• “While the others were celebrating, she remained quiet.”

Example Sentences

• Adverb: “While we were walking in the park, it started raining.”
• Preposition: “While he was busy, his friends came over unannounced.”

Synonyms

• Concurrently
• At the same time
• In the meantime
• During that time
• In the process

Contrasting Examples (Antonyms)

• Until (denotes time until a condition is met)
• After (indicates time following an action)
• Despite (despite the fact) (contrast in meaning, not time)