while

B1 · Intermediate

conj. used to show a difference between two things or to mean 'although'.

conj. used as a contrastive connector to introduce a concessive clause or to highlight a difference between two subjects.

“While I understand your point, I still disagree with the final decision.”

“While the first experiment yielded promising results, the subsequent trials failed to replicate the initial findings under more rigorous conditions.”

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a length of time, usually a short or medium period.

n. an indefinite period of time, often used in prepositional phrases like 'for a while' or 'after a while'.

“We sat on the park bench for a while and watched the birds.”

“It may take a while for the new software to become fully integrated into our daily workflow, so please be patient with the transition.”

C1 · Advanced Literary

v. to spend time in a relaxed way while waiting for something.

v. to pass time in a leisurely or idle manner, almost exclusively used in the phrasal construction 'while away'.

“They whiled away the rainy afternoon playing board games in the hotel lobby.”

“The travellers whiled away the long hours of the layover by browsing the duty-free shops and reading old magazines.”