While meaning in English

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Definition

While (I was sleeping...): When, during the time that, as (I was sleeping...) conjunction
In British English, whilst is often used in place of "while".
He shouted at his wife while I was still in the room, I didn't know what to say.
Can you wait for me while I get ready?
While (on the building site, be very careful): When, if you are (on the building site, be very careful) conjunction
(to wait for) a while: (to wait for) a period of time, a moment idiom
It's been a while since I last heard from you, how have you been?

UK: Whilst you're up, would you mind making me a cup of tea?
US: I cut my chin while shaving this morning.

Examples

  • "Any restaurants worth trying while I'm here?"
  • "The experience was utterly humiliating for both of us, and for a long while, it seemed that we would die in that horrible, detestable yet meticulously organized hellhole."
  • "Yes, yes... "heart attack while saving orphans from a fire"."
  • "While heating up the soup, I decided to read the ingredients."
  • "Bruno : I felt like the king of the world while Betty's banquet continued."
  • "Bruno saw his first dolphin at the age of 13, while surfing in the Pacific."
  • "Now, while she's changing the bill, tell me a bit more about your native Sweden, I've heard it's quite cold this time of year..."
  • "Glen : The rest of you, while I'm helping Edward, please practice your breathing."
  • "Horatio : Do you know who is feeding my monkeys while we're gone?"
  • "At the same time, Philip developed a talent for sales while travelling door to door with his father and selling first hot dogs, then toasters, and eventually insurance policies."
  • "Sockets to plug phones and laptops in, so your boss can contact you even while you travel (great)."
  • "I would like you to accompany Philip on this trip in order to discuss said invoices with their accounts department while Philip discusses new orders with their buyers, thereby killing two birds with one stone."
  • "My father once said, a dying British man will shoot you while you're trying to rob an airport."
  • "Nobody knows this, but every night I return home at seven o'clock to feed my seven cats and watch soap operas while eating bon bons in front of the telly."
  • "Should be just like riding a bicycle... while drinking heavily."
  • "while children like dogs because they often solve mysteries in a large van in cartoons."
  • "And while I'm here, we'll be serving dinner in about half an hour."
  • "Perhaps Michael can write a song to sing while you shake the bottle?"
  • "I'm not going to eat a steak while I'm partly underwater."
  • "While the print media has indeed been critical of your company recently, we propose focusing on Delavigne's Internet presence to shift the narrative from tabloid gossip to the high quality profiles and experience of your staff."

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