awhile

== English == === Etymology === From Old English āne (“(for) a”) hwīle (“while”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /əˈwaɪl/, /əˈʍaɪl/ Rhymes: -aɪl === Adverb === awhile (not comparable) For some time; for a short time. (US, south-central Pennsylvania) In the meantime; during an implicit ongoing process. ==== Usage notes ==== Awhile to mean “for a while” is often considered incorrect to use with a preceding preposition, since one is already supposed: instead of for awhile, one should prefer either for a while or simply awhile. However, awhile as object for a preposition is used by renowned writers, is allowed by Merriam-Webster, and is consistent with how other adverbs of time and place are employed. In south-central Pennsylvania, 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 may sit awhile” (inviting a person to sit while they are waiting) and “You may sit a while” (inviting them to sit for a length of time). ==== Synonyms ==== (for some time): for a minute, momentarily; see also Thesaurus:temporarily (in the meantime): for the moment, meanwhile, meanwhilst, the while ==== Related terms ==== while ==== Translations ==== === References === “'Awhile' vs. 'A While'”, in Merriam-Webster‎[2], archived from the original on 17 October 2023: “Generally, the two-word form "a while" should be used when following a preposition ("I will read for a while"), or with the words ago or back ("a while ago/back").” “a while (also rarely one while)” under “while, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000: “(chiefly with the prepositions after, for, in, †within) […]”