whilst

IPA/waɪlst/
KK[wˈaɪlst]IPA/waɪlst/

whilst — conjunction

1. used to say that two actions or events happen together in time

1.conjunctionB1
Definition

used to say that two actions or events happen together in time

Example

Folake listened to music whilst she waited for the train to arrive.

whilst + clause describing simultaneous actions

Bilal dropped his keys whilst trying to unlock the front door in the dark.

whilst + present participle (same subject)

Common collocations
  • whilst waiting
  • whilst driving
  • whilst working
  • whilst travelling
  • whilst at school
  • whilst in hospital
Synonyms
  • while

    same meaning but far more common in everyday speech; 'whilst' sounds more formal

  • as

    also expresses simultaneity but often implies a closer or causal connection between the two events

Grammar Patterns

whilst + clause

whilst + present participle

whilst + prepositional phrase

Usage Note

Commonly used with a present participle when the subject of both clauses is the same: 'whilst walking home' instead of 'whilst she was walking home'. In American English, 'while' is strongly preferred over 'whilst'.

Common Mistakes

He ate dinner whilst to watch TV.
He ate dinner whilst watching TV.
'whilst' must be followed by a clause or a participle, not an infinitive.
Whilst I am loving this song.
Whilst I love this song.
Whilst (like while) typically takes stative verbs, not continuous forms with stative meanings.

2. used to introduce a fact that makes the main part of the sentence seem surprisin

2.conjunctionB2
Definition

used to introduce a fact that makes the main part of the sentence seem surprising or unexpected

Example

Whilst the hotel was expensive, the service was surprisingly poor.

whilst + clause expressing concession (surprising contrast)

Ayesha decided to take the job, whilst she had serious doubts about the salary.

Common collocations
  • whilst ... may ...
  • whilst ... is ...
  • whilst ... might ...
Synonyms
  • although

    the most common alternative in both speech and writing; slightly less formal than 'whilst'

  • even though

    stronger emphasis on the surprising contrast; more common in speech than 'whilst'

  • though

    less formal; can also appear at the end of a sentence, which 'whilst' cannot

Grammar Patterns

whilst + clause (concessive)

Usage Note

In this concessive sense, 'whilst' can usually be replaced by 'although' or 'even though'. 'Even though' adds stronger emphasis on the surprising nature of the contrast.

Common Mistakes

Whilst it was raining, I took an umbrella.
Although it was raining, I went for a walk.
The first sentence has no element of surprise; 'whilst/although' is only needed when the second clause contradicts what the first clause would lead you to expect.

3. used to connect two statements that express opposite or different ideas, emphasi

3.conjunctionB2
Definition

used to connect two statements that express opposite or different ideas, emphasising the difference between them

Example

Rafael prefers action films, whilst his sister enjoys romantic comedies.

whilst contrasting two people's preferences

House prices in cities keep rising, whilst rural demand has dropped sharply.

Common collocations
  • whilst ... however
  • ... whilst on the other hand
  • whilst ... conversely
Synonyms
  • whereas

    slightly more formal than 'whilst' and used almost exclusively for contrast, never for time or concession

  • but

    the most common and neutral alternative; less formal and shorter than 'whilst'

Grammar Patterns

clause + whilst + clause (contrast)

whilst + clause, + clause (contrast)

Usage Note

This sense is very close to 'whereas'. Both are formal, and both contrast two parallel facts. The difference is that 'whilst' can also express time or concession (senses 1 and 2), so readers rely on context to tell them apart.

Common Mistakes

I like tea whilst my friend likes coffee.
I like tea, whilst my friend likes coffee.
A comma before 'whilst' is standard when joining two independent clauses in the contrastive sense.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: conjunction/1

'Whilst', 'while', and 'as' all express simultaneity, but they differ in formality, register, and nuance. 'While' is the most neutral and common choice in both speech and writing across all English varieties. 'Whilst' carries a noticeably more formal or literary tone and is rare in American English. In British English, 'whilst' appears in formal writing and careful speech but can sound stiff in everyday conversation. 'As' also signals simultaneity but often implies a closer or causal link between the two events — 'As I opened the door, the cat ran out' suggests the cat ran out because the door opened, whereas 'whilst' keeps the two events parallel without implying causation. For Taiwanese learners, the safest choice in daily conversation is 'while'. Use 'whilst' in formal essays or when you want a more elegant tone in writing.

whilst ↗while ↗as ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • whilst at
  • whilst in
  • whilst on

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Whilst' comes from Middle English 'whiles', which was the genitive (possessive) form of 'while', used as an adverb meaning 'during the time'. An extra -t was added around the 15th century, following a pattern seen in other words like 'amongst' and 'amidst', where an unetymological -t appeared. The genitive -s originally marked adverbial usage, similar to how 'always' and 'sometimes' still end in -s today.