Whilst
waɪlst
Definitions
During the time that; at the same time as.
waɪlst
During the time that; at the same time as
Whilst it may be difficult, we must persevere.
💡 Simply: It's like saying 'during' or 'at the same time'. For example, 'Whilst you were eating, I was working.' It's a bit old-fashioned, like you're writing a fancy letter.
👶 For kids: It means 'while'. Like, 'I played whilst my mom cooked dinner.'
More Examples
She continued to work, whilst her colleague took a break.
Whilst the weather was bad, we still enjoyed ourselves.
Whilst he claimed innocence, the evidence suggested otherwise.
How It's Used
"Whilst I was at the store, I saw John."
"Whilst the committee debated, the public waited outside."
Idioms & expressions
whilst at
Describes an action happening during the time or situation of a place.
"Whilst at the park, she fed the ducks."
From Middle English "whiles," a genitive form of "while" (meaning 'time'), evolving to its current form through contraction and vowel shift. Originally used to mean "during the time that," it is now a synonym for "while."
Common in older British literature and formal writing, gradually being replaced by "while" in modern informal contexts.
Memory tip
Think 'while', but with a fancier spelling. It means the same thing.