WHILE AWAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does while away mean? 

• WHILE AWAY (verb)
  The verb WHILE AWAY has 1 sense:

1. spend or pass, as with boredom or in a pleasant manner; of time

  Familiarity information: WHILE AWAY used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WHILE AWAY (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Spend or pass, as with boredom or in a pleasant manner; of time

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

get through; while away

Hypernyms (to "while away" is one way to...):

pass; spend (use up a period of time in a specific way)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Yes, I will while away the morning at Godolphin Street with our friends of the regular establishment.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As a Gemini, you are known to love to do things in twos, so why not fan out and explore another city while away?

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away these bleak autumnal evenings.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He went to while away the next three hours as he could, with his other acquaintance, till the best dinner that a capital inn afforded was ready for their enjoyment, and she turned in to her more simple one immediately.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Catherine was with her friend again the next day, endeavouring to support her spirits and while away the many tedious hours before the delivery of the letters; a needful exertion, for as the time of reasonable expectation drew near, Isabella became more and more desponding, and before the letter arrived, had worked herself into a state of real distress.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Books of engravings, drawers of medals, cameos, corals, shells, and every other family collection within his cabinets, had been prepared for his old friend, to while away the morning; and the kindness had perfectly answered.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Finally he led the way into the drawing-room, with the remark that the business was now out of our hands, and that we must while away the time as best we might until we could see what was in store for us.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)