Awhile means for a short time. It is more commonly spelled 'a while', which is considered more correct, especially in British English.
He worked awhile as a pharmacist in Cincinnati.
Synonyms: for a while, briefly, for a moment, for a short time More Synonyms of awhile
Awhile is also a noun.
Authorities had been looking for him for awhile.
awhile in British English
(əˈwaɪl)
adverb
for a brief period
awhile in American English
(əˈwaɪl; əˈhwaɪl)
adverb
for a while; for a short time
Word origin
ME < OE ane hwile, a while
Examples of 'awhile' in a sentence
awhile
He put the tea down himself and said we could wait awhile as well as not.
LM Montgomery Anne of Green Gables (1872)
Our first human parents were given a home and invited to sit and stay awhile.
Christianity Today (2000)
It just takes awhile because of anonymity issues.
The Sun (2011)
We will wait awhile and see.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Come on in and sit awhile.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Wait awhile before you swim.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
In other languages
awhile
British English: awhile ADVERB
Awhile means for a short time.
He worked awhile as a pharmacist in Cincinnati.
American English: awhile
Brazilian Portuguese: brevemente
Chinese: 一会儿
European Spanish: algún tiempo
French: un temps
German: eine Weile
Italian: per un po'
Japanese: しばらく
Korean: 잠깐
European Portuguese: brevemente
Latin American Spanish: algún tiempo
(adverb)
Definition
for a brief period
He worked awhile as a pharmacist.
Synonyms
for a while
briefly
for a moment
for a short time
for a little while
Usage note
Awhile, written as a single word, is an adverb meaning `for a period of time'. It can only be used with a verb, for example: he stood awhile in thought. It is quite commonly written by mistake instead of the noun a while, meaning `a period of time', so take care not to confuse the two parts of speech: I thought about that for a while (not awhile).