awhile

Old English ane (“(for) a”) hwile (“while”)

• IPA^(key): /əˈwaɪl/, /əˈhwaɪl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪl

awhile (not comparable)

1. For some time; for a short time.

   Sit with me awhile.

   • c. 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act I scene i:

     Gratiano:

     […] Fare ye well awhile:

     I'll end my exhortation after dinner.

2. (US, dialectal) In the meantime; during (an implicit ongoing process).

   Can I get you a drink awhile?

Since awhile means “for a while”, it is never used with a preceding preposition, as one is already included. When preceded by a preposition, the correct form is “a while”, as two words, as in once in a while. Compare “sit with me awhile” and “sit with me for a while”.

In dialects using the second sense of the word, awhile is typically always used to convey such sense; the word is separated as “a while” for the first sense, whether preceded by a preposition or not. Compare “You can sit awhile” (meaning the person can sit while they are waiting) and “You can sit a while” (meaning they can sit for a length of time).

• while