How Do You Spell AWHILE?

Pronunciation: [ɐwˈa͡ɪl] (IPA)

The word "awhile" is often confused with "a while", but it is actually a single word! It means "for a short time" and is pronounced /əˈwʌɪl/. The "a" is pronounced with a schwa sound, while the "wh" is pronounced like an "h". The "i" before the "l" is also silent. This spelling can be tricky, as it's different from other words with the "-while" suffix, such as "meanwhile" or "sometime". However, mastering the spelling and pronunciation of "awhile" will make your writing and speaking more precise!

Meaning and Definition
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Etymology
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AWHILE Meaning and Definition

  1. "Awhile" is an adverb that primarily refers to a short period of time or duration. It implies the notion of "for a while" or "for a short time." It is used to indicate that something is happening or will happen for a limited duration, emphasizing the temporary nature of the action or event.

    The term "awhile" is synonymous with "briefly," "temporarily," or "for a short spell." It implies that the specific action or condition will not continue indefinitely but has a defined endpoint or will come to an end soon.

    For instance, if someone says, "Let's wait awhile before starting the game," it suggests taking a short break or delaying the activity for a brief period. Similarly, when a friend tells you that they will be away for awhile, it means they will be absent for a short time.

    "Awhile" is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts and can apply to various activities or situations. It is typically used in combination with verbs such as "wait," "rest," "stay," "pause," or "stop" to specify the limited duration of the action or state.

    In summary, "awhile" is an adverb indicating a temporary or short-lived period of time, signifying a brief duration before an activity ends or returns to its regular state.

  2. For a short time.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for AWHILE *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for AWHILE

Etymology of AWHILE

The word "awhile" is a compound of the preposition "a", which in this context means "in", and the noun "while", meaning a period of time. It originated from the Old English phrase "an hwīle", which meant "for a time". Over time, the letter "n" from "an" was lost, and the phrase evolved into "a while" and eventually merged into a single word, "awhile".

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