for a while
∞
1.0
- idiom
:
por un tiempo
- He'll be gone for a while.
- for a while now
- work for a while
- stay for a while
And, and I think that works for a while until it doesn't.
- And, and I think that works for a while until it doesn't.
- But I've been battling with this one for a while and pulled through.
- She, she said she thought for a while, she didn't say anything.
- It might decay later, but for a while it would get stronger.
- Medra stays with with them for a while, and they tell him something.
- And she said, I haven't played for a while, but sure.
- It reverberates for a while and that doesn't feel good.
- And I, I did have resentment for a while with a lot of things.
- I believe he was like the interim CTO for a while for, for a bit.
- They have a post, it's been there for a while called about Republicans.
- Emacs for a while was kind of fun.
- Or they may just pack it in and leave for a while or forever.
- And then I was better again for a while, right.
Examples
-
Okay, well, we should find a way to get comfortable, 'cause I think we're gonna be up here for a while.
-
I need to go and do something normal for a while.
-
And I like being there for a while, you know, a while.
-
Or they may just pack it in and leave for a while or forever.
-
Hey, this could be my last job for a while.
-
I am going to Texas for a while this Friday.
-
For a while, it felt like it was never going to end.
-
I'm tired, but I would like the flight deck to myself for a while longer.
-
I haven't seen her around for a while, which is okay by me.
Fiction book (1990) -
I plan to stay in the mountains for a while to relax and recharge.
Synonyms
222
3.2
For a short time and not permanent
189
3.4
For a short time that is not meant to last
106
3.4
For now until the situation changes
53
2.9
For a short time
Antonyms
How Long
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'for a short period of time' is directly compositional from 'for' (indicating duration) + 'a' (indefinite article) + 'while' (a span of time); this preposition + noun phrase pattern transparently encodes duration. Cross-linguistically and in basic English usage this construction is regular and a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
For a while comes from the old use of the word while, meaning 'a short period of time'. Imagine sitting on a bench 'for a while'—you are only there for a little time, so the phrase means 'temporarily'.