Awhile

Awhile is an adverb that means "for a short time" or "for a period of time." It is often used to indicate a brief duration of time in various contexts. The term is commonly used in everyday language and can be found in both spoken and written forms.

Usage

The word "awhile" is typically used to describe a short period of time. It is important to note that "awhile" is different from the phrase "a while." While "awhile" is an adverb, "a while" is a noun phrase that is often preceded by a preposition such as "for" or "in."

Examples

• "Please wait awhile before entering the room."
• "She stayed awhile and then left."

In contrast, "a while" would be used as follows:

• "Please wait for a while before entering the room."
• "She stayed for a while and then left."

Etymology

The word "awhile" originates from the Old English phrase "ane hwile," which means "a while." Over time, the phrase evolved into the single word "awhile."

Related Terms

• Moment
• Instant
• Short period
• Duration

See Also

• Time
• Adverb
• Grammar
• English language