Can awhile be used after a preposition?: Usage Guide
Although considered a solecism by many commentators, awhile, like several other adverbs of time and place, is often used as the object of a preposition.
… would be generous enough to let me explore their world for awhile.
—
David Yeadon
David Yeadon
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
The land for lovely Loose Park came with an interesting set of stipulations
Closing the downtown freeway loop took awhile.
—Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2025
The multimedia took awhile to download, but the GIFs and audio were eventually playable.
—PC Magazine, 29 July 2025
Comfortable couches and chairs invite you to stay awhile.
—Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Find a comfortable spot with a good view and sit awhile.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for awhile
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Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2025
The multimedia took awhile to download, but the GIFs and audio were eventually playable.
—PC Magazine, 29 July 2025
Comfortable couches and chairs invite you to stay awhile.
—Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Find a comfortable spot with a good view and sit awhile.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for awhile
Cite this Entry
“Awhile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awhile. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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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