Meanings
adverbthe while (not comparable)
- not comparableAt the same time; during that period; meanwhile.
Finally, she reluctantly piled in with me, complaining the while.
2012, Tracy Saunders, The Indalo Quest, page 71Synonyms: all the while
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbAt the same time; during that period; meanwhile.
Similar
Also see
Origin
- Old Englishþā hwīle
- Middle Englishþe while
- Englishthe while
From Middle English þe while, from Old English þā hwīle, equivalent to the + while (noun).
More words from Middle English, Old English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Esperanto samtempe
- samtempeat the same time
Cite this entry
APA
the while. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20while
MLA
“the while.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20while. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the while,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20while.
Source: the while on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.