Usage of Awhile
Awhile and a while are increasingly used interchangeably, but a distinction is traditionally observed: awhile is an adverb that means "for a while" (that is, "for a period of time") and a while is a noun phrase meaning "a period of time." Awhile usually modifies a verb
was waiting awhile
stopping at the park awhile [= stopping awhile at the park]
; it can typically replace any instance of "for a while." The two-word form a while is used with the words ago or back,
a while ago/back
and when following a preposition.
I read for a while.
We'll see them in a while.
Examples of awhile in a Sentence
I'm going to sit and rest awhile.
The rumor had been around awhile.
Recent Examples on the Web
Valve's Steam Deck handheld was out of stock for awhile and recently came back with a huge price bump.
—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
13 June 2026
The Dolphins decided, awhile ago, to have three key football voices report directly to ownership — general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, coach Jeff Hafley and Brandon Shore, who recently was promoted to executive vice president/football operations.
—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
It’s been awhile since Ben Cohen, who cofounded the ice cream brand in 1978, has been actively involved in the company.
—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 June 2026
This can avoid the huge temperature swings or letting the house become extremely hot and humid that can still feel uncomfortable for awhile afterward once the temperature comes back down.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for awhile
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
13 June 2026
The Dolphins decided, awhile ago, to have three key football voices report directly to ownership — general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, coach Jeff Hafley and Brandon Shore, who recently was promoted to executive vice president/football operations.
—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
It’s been awhile since Ben Cohen, who cofounded the ice cream brand in 1978, has been actively involved in the company.
—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 June 2026
This can avoid the huge temperature swings or letting the house become extremely hot and humid that can still feel uncomfortable for awhile afterward once the temperature comes back down.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for awhile
Cite this Entry
“Awhile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awhile. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
awhile
adverb
ə-ˈhwī(ə)l 
ə-ˈwī(ə)l
: for a while : for a short time
sit and rest awhile
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