View synonyms for

awhile

[ uh-hwahyl, uh-wahyl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

for a short time or period:
Stay awhile.

awhile

/ əˈ�ɲ�ɪ�� /

adverb

for a brief period

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Spelling Note

The adverb awhile is spelled as a single word: After stopping in Hadley awhile, we drove to Deerfield. As the object of a preposition, the noun phrase a while is used, especially in edited writing, but the single-word form is becoming increasingly common: We rested for a while (or awhile ).

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Word History and Origins

Origin of awhile¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English āne hwīle (dative); a ¹, while

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

I’ve been a member there for years, and sometimes when I have a whole day off, I’ll go there for awhile.

From

He riffed awhile about the physical and mental challenges in the ring, his ability to go to hell and back.

From

Just awhile ago, this kind of talk didn’t exist, but such fruition will not come true since good old Bill Plaschke has predicted that it’s time for the Lakers’ 18th title run.

From

"The effects will continue for awhile, a lot of swollen streams and a lot of flooding going on," Bob Oravec, a senior forecaster with the NWS, said.

From

"The song is called the Limerick Lament and it's from 1607, so it's been around awhile," he said.

From

awheel a while back

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