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# while

«while» in Mova's school dictionary: **at the same time as something else happens** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

conjunction (while; UK also whilst); noun (a while); verb (while away)

### meaning for a pupil

1) While means at the same time as something else happens. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#m1)

2) While can mean but, or although, to show a difference. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#m2)

3) «A while» is some time, often not long. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#m3)

4) To while away time is to pass it in a relaxed way. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#m4)

5) Worth while (written as two words) means worth the time or effort. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#m5)

### sense in the lessons

joins two facts told side by side, often to compare or add them; in stories, «while» tells that two things happen at once; phrases «a while», «for a while», «in a while», «once in a while», «worth your while»

### examples

- Mary has 12 apples while Tom has 8. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x1)
- While she read 20 pages, he read 15. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x2)
- How many more does Mary have? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x3)
- She waited a while. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x4)
- I listened to music while I cleaned my room. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x5)
- Don't use your phone while you cross the road. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x6)
- See you in a while! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x7)
- Once in a while we eat out. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x8)
- Some birds fly south, while others stay. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x9)
- The rain stopped for a while. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x10)
- It is quite worth while trying.’ [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/#x11)

### note

A joining word, no operation by itself; it puts two amounts side by side. Trap: «while» is not «more than»; check what the question asks. «A while» (noun) and «awhile» (adverb) are close. Do not mix up «while» and «wile» (a trick).

### In the corpora

- [While a parent is unemployed the family may claim benefits and cut spending; free fun like parks and libraries helps.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/4-when-work-goes-wrong/9/)
- [Some cash machines charge a fee for taking out money, while most bank ones are free.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/7-cards-banks-and-apps/18/)
- [Cashback at a shop means taking your own money out as cash while paying by card; it is not a gift.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/7-cards-banks-and-apps/20/)
- [Some families use a food bank for a while, which is help, not shame.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/9-when-money-is-tight/3/)
- [Fostering is looking after a child from another family for a while, when their own parents cannot cope for now.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/19-a-new-baby-in-the-house/13/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «while» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/while/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.