while away

spend time in a relaxed or lazy way, often doing something pleasant but not useful

C2

What does "while sth away" mean?

To while away time is to let it pass slowly and pleasantly, without any particular purpose or urgency. The phrase evokes a sense of unhurried contentment — long summer afternoons, rainy mornings with a book, idle evenings on a terrace. What distinguishes it from simply 'spending time' is its tone: there is no guilt, no ambition, and no waiting for something else to happen. It carries a gently nostalgic, almost old-fashioned flavour, which is why it appears far more often in novels, travel writing, and memoirs than in everyday conversation. The activity filling the time is usually described with a present participle — 'whiling away the hours reading', 'whiled the afternoon away chatting with neighbours' — and this extension feels almost obligatory in natural use.

Examples

How to use it

while away + time expression (+ present participle phrase)

The most common unseparated pattern, often followed by a phrase describing the pleasant activity being done.

He whiled away the long winter evenings playing chess and listening to records.

while + time expression + away (+ present participle phrase)

The separated form, which is actually the more frequently encountered pattern in natural usage; the time expression sits between 'while' and 'away'.

She whiled the rainy afternoon away reading old letters and drinking tea.

while away + time expression + by + gerund

The activity can also be introduced with 'by', making the means of idling explicit.

They whiled away the long wait by swapping travel stories and sharing a bottle of wine.

while away + time expression (no activity specified)

When the pleasant activity is already understood from context, the participial phrase can be omitted entirely.

Retirement gave her the chance to while away the mornings as she pleased.

Common Collocations

the afternoonthe hoursthe eveningthe timea lazy Sundaythe long wait

Common Mistakes

Spelling: 'wile away'

A very common misspelling. The correct form is 'while away', using the word 'while'. 'Wile' is a different word meaning a trick or lure, and 'wile away' is not standard.

✗ We wiled away the afternoon on the terrace.
✓ We whiled away the afternoon on the terrace.
Using a pronoun instead of a time expression

The object of 'while away' must be a time expression, not a pronoun like 'it'. Native speakers do not say 'while it away' — they always name the stretch of time being passed.

✗ The journey was long, but we whiled it away.
✓ The journey was long, but we whiled the hours away chatting.
Confusing 'while away' with 'fritter away'

'Fritter away' carries a clear negative judgement — it implies time or money was wasted regrettably. 'While away' is gentler and more positive, suggesting pleasant, harmless idling. Using 'while away' in a context of regret or reproach produces the wrong tone.

✗ He whiled away his entire savings on pointless gadgets.
✓ He frittered away his entire savings on pointless gadgets.

Usage

This phrasal verb has a literary, old-fashioned flavour and is much more common in written English — especially in novels, travel writing, and memoirs — than in everyday speech. It is more frequent in British English than American English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'while away' old-fashioned? Do people still use it?

It does have a gently old-fashioned, literary quality, and you are far more likely to encounter it in novels, memoirs, or travel writing than in everyday spoken English. That said, it is not obsolete — educated speakers do use it, and it is particularly well established in British English. In casual conversation, most people would simply say 'passed the time' or 'spent the afternoon'.

Can 'while away' be used in the passive, like 'the hours were whiled away'?

This is grammatically possible but virtually never appears in authentic usage. The verb is strongly associated with an active subject enjoying time, and the passive feels unnatural. It is best to avoid the passive entirely with this phrasal verb.

Is 'while away' more British than American?

Yes, noticeably so. While American English speakers would understand it, the phrase is considerably more common in British English — especially in written contexts. American speakers are more likely to reach for 'pass the time' or 'kill time' in equivalent situations.

Can I use 'while away' in the present continuous, like 'I am whiling away the afternoon'?

Grammatically, yes, but it sounds slightly awkward in practice. The simple past ('I whiled away the afternoon') and past continuous ('I was whiling away the hours') feel far more natural. The present continuous form is technically possible but is rarely used by native speakers.

Does 'while away' always involve doing something enjoyable, or can it describe boredom?

It leans strongly toward the pleasant side of idleness — the phrase suggests an unhurried, contented passing of time rather than frustrated boredom. If someone is waiting impatiently or enduring time rather than enjoying it, 'kill time' would be the more fitting choice. 'While away' is incompatible with urgency or distress.

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