conjunction · neutral
while
/waɪl/WHILE
used to say that two things happen at the same time or to contrast two ideas
Examples
“I read the article while I ate breakfast.”
“She likes jazz, while he prefers rock.”
“While the cost is high, the benefits are significant.”
Band 8 sentence
“While renewable energy requires initial investment, it offers substantial savings and environmental benefits in the long run.”
Collocations
- while + clause (temporal or contrast)
Common mistakes
Use 'while' for contrast in a formal essay even when it causes time ambiguity.→Prefer 'whereas' for clear academic contrast; use 'while' for time or informal contrast.
While I was young, I ... (meaning 'though')→Although I was young, I ... OR While I was young, I did something at the same time as another event
Say it for a higher band
5when→6whereas→7+while
Synonyms
whereas
Easily confused
whereas
“While I was cooking, the phone rang.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Contrast
Learn it with its set