whilst

American

[hwahylst, wahylst] / ʰwaɪlst, waɪlst /

conjunction

Chiefly British. while.

whilst British

/ waɪlst /

conjunction

another word for while while while while while

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of whilst

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English whilest, equivalent to whiles + excrescent -t as in amongst, amidst

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I would also like to express my thanks to local residents for the co-operation shown whilst we worked to bring the situation to a safe conclusion," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Muir said the crisis "has been decades in the making" and whilst there are "no quick fixes, restoring and protecting the ecological health of the lough is possible".

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

The trust added: "It's an opportunity for all to feed into this potential reintroduction project, facilitating collaborative planning and helping to maximise the significant environmental benefits, whilst minimising any negative impacts of any future project."

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

In particular, the U.A.E.—which has long been a financial hub for Iranian businesses and individuals—warned that it could freeze Iranian-owned assets, whilst also debating whether to send military assets into the fight, The Journal reported.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Grandpa Firewood said, “Family, we shall not bite humans whilst they attend to their business! Nathan, we shall have your sash ready in half of a moon cycle.”

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023