Word
whilst
US/ˈwaɪɫst/
UK/wˈaɪlst/
Definition
conj. during the same time that something else is happening. It is a more formal way to say 'while'.
conj. during the time that; at the same time as. Used as a formal or literary alternative to 'while', primarily in British English.
Examples
“I listened to music whilst I cleaned the house.”
“The researchers observed the subjects' reactions whilst they performed a series of memory tasks under pressure.”
“Whilst the initial results of the study appear promising, the long-term implications of the treatment remain largely unknown and require further investigation.”
Examples
simple
“I listened to music whilst I cleaned the house.”
contextual
“The researchers observed the subjects' reactions whilst they performed a series of memory tasks under pressure.”
complex
“Whilst the initial results of the study appear promising, the long-term implications of the treatment remain largely unknown and require further investigation.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “whilst” in context.
Verb
01. listen whilst taking notes
“It is essential to listen whilst taking notes during the lecture to capture every detail.”
verb + noun
02. read whilst waiting for the bus
“She usually manages to read whilst waiting for the bus in the morning.”
verb + prep + noun
03. remain whilst others leave
“The dedicated staff chose to remain whilst others leave the building during the strike.”
verb + and + verb
04. work whilst traveling abroad
“Many digital nomads prefer to work whilst traveling abroad to maintain their lifestyle.”
verb + adv
Adjective
05. cautious whilst under pressure
“The CEO remained remarkably cautious whilst under pressure from the shareholders.”
adj + prep + noun
06. useful whilst in transit
“Portable chargers are incredibly useful whilst in transit between international flights.”
adj + prep + noun
Usage
Functions as a subordinating conjunction. It is significantly more common in British English than American English and is typically reserved for formal writing.
Pitfall
Whilst of the meeting
During the meeting
Whilst is a conjunction and must be followed by a clause or a participle, not a simple noun phrase.
Real-World Examples
“So we have seen Maresca's City leave four or five players – the three defenders and the holding midfielders – behind the ball whilst they attack, ensuring the team maintain a good 'rest defence'.” “Whilst schemes like Keighley's can help on the margins, they say, at the national level a much bigger answer is needed.” “But Prof Tipton warns not to go too cold: "The trick is to try and get the skin as cool as possible whilst maintaining maximum blood flow to it.” Etymology
From Late Middle English whilst, whilest, qwhilste (Northern England), quilest (Northwest Midlands) [and other forms], from whiles (“during the time that, while; only so long as; provided that; because, since; until”) + -t (excrescent suffix, perhaps due to a combination of -(e)s and the following word the, or influenced by the superlative suffix -est). Whiles is derived from whiles (“period of time, a while”, noun) (probably from the second element of adverbs and conjunctions like otherwhiles and somewhiles), from while (“period of time, a while”, noun) + -s (suffix forming adverbs of manner, space, and time); and while is from Old English hwīl (“period of time, a while”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic hwīlō (“period of time, a while; period of rest, break, pause”), from Proto-Indo-European kʷyeh₁- (“to rest; peace, rest”). The English word can be analysed as whiles + -t (excrescent suffix appended to words suffixed with -s). cognates * West Frisian wylst (“whilst”)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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